LIVE: All 41 workers trapped inside Silkyara tunnel successfully rescued

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6:50 PM

GRAP Stage-III curbs removed from Delhi-NCR with immediate effect

CAQM orders removal of GRAP Stage-III curbs in Delhi-NCR with immediate effect due to improvement in air quality. Construction-demolition project sites in Delhi, industries issued closure order to resume operation: Commission for Air Quality Management.

6:50 PM

Israel-Hamas War: Nearly 170 hostages left to rescue, says Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon

Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, said, "...Nearly 170 hostages are left... We are aiming for two things: One is to eliminate the capacity of Hamas... And the other is to release the hostages... We are working on both of them..."

6:49 PM

Four children injured in an explosion in Begusarai, Bihar

Four children sustained injuries in an explosion. The precise nature and cause of the explosion are currently under investigation by local authorities. The injured children have been swiftly taken to nearby medical facilities for necessary treatment and care.

6:47 PM

Near breakthrough, 2 metres drilling still left, says NDMA official

Addressing a press briefing in New Delhi, NDMA Member Syed Ata Hasnain said, rat-hole mining experts, who were pressed into manually drilling through the last stretch, had reached the 58-metre point, and there were about two more metres to go. "We are near a breakthrough but not yet there.

5:43 PM

Rescuers ‘close’ to breakthrough

Rescue workers on Tuesday were close to breaking through the 60-metre stretch of rubble of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand in which 41 workers are trapped for the last 16 days, officials said.

 

At the disaster site, state government's information department chief Bansi Dhar Tiwari told reporters a little after 1.30 pm that the drilling was “over".

5:23 PM

NHAI has again started the work of audit

On Silkyara tunnel rescue mission, Vishal Chauhan, Member, NHAI, says," NHAI has again started the work of audit of all tunnels. We are working on this with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and one other agency."

5:21 PM

We are at 58 metres and the sounds of drilling and digging are being heard on the other side: NDMA

Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), Member, NDMA, says "We are at 58 metres and the sounds of drilling and digging are being heard on the other side. It is the last mile of the operation where the rat miners have gone in along with the Army, NDRF and other agencies. It is because of their efforts that 10 metres have been achieved in the last 24 hours..."

5:20 PM

Visuals of rescue workers inside tunnel. NDMA has said that 3 to 4 hours is need for complete evacuation

5:19 PM

As the rescue operations enter final stage, sweets being distributed among the family members of a worker

4:48 PM

Uttarkashi Tunnel rescue: Rishikesh AIIMS on alert mode, a 41-bed ward including trauma center ready

Rishikesh AIIMS on alert mode for medical services. A 41-bed ward including trauma center ready. A team of cardiac and psychiatric specialist doctors including trauma surgeon ready. Three helicopters can be landed simultaneously at the helipad of Rishikesh AIIMS. Workers in critical condition will be airlifted to Rishikesh AIIMS.

4:38 PM

Two metre digging still left before 41 trapped workers can be pulled out: NDMA

Forty-one workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyari tunnel are now two metres from escaping their underground prison of 17 days, Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd.), a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, told press Tuesday afternoon.
 

Rescue teams racing to save the 41 men are clearing the final few metres of debris - thanks to the banned manual "rat-hole"-mining technique employed after high-tech machines, or augers, failed to drill through nearly 60 metres of rock - and lay two-feet wide pipes to create an escape route.

4:33 PM

The entire evacuation is expected to take 3-4 hours: NDMA

On evacuation of trapped workers from Silkyara tunnel, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member, NDMA says, "It is estimated that it will take 3-5 minutes to evacuate each of the 41 persons. The entire evacuation is expected to take 3-4 hours. Three teams of NDRF will go in ise the tunnel to organise the evacuation. SDRF will provde support. Paramedics will also go inside the tunnel at the time of evacuation." 

4:29 PM

It will take 3-5 minutes to evacuate each of the 41 persons: Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member, NDMA

On evacuation of trapped workers from Silkyara tunnel, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member, NDMA says, "It is estimated that it will take 3-5 minutes to evacuate each of the 41 persons. The entire evacuation is expected to take 3-4 hours. Three teams of NDRF will go in ise the tunnel to organise the evacuation. SDRF will provde support. Paramedics will also go inside the tunnel at the time of evacuation."

4:19 PM

Chinook helicopter present at Chinyalisaur airstrip to airlift workers after their rescue from Silkyara tunnel

4:13 PM

Garlands brought to Silkyara tunnel rescue site in anticipation of early rescue of 41 trapped workers