The operation to rescue the trapped workers in a Uttarakhand tunnel has encountered another fiasco as the major setback from the failure of the auger machine has sparked more challenges and increased the agony among the family members of the workers. The latest setback has added disappointment to nearly-a-fortnight efforts to rescue the workers. 

The chilling incident of the tunnel collapse and the events unfolded aftermath had drawn a sharp attention from across the nation, which is watching the developments closely and praying for a safe rescue of 41 workers, who were into constructing tunnel in Silkyara in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The workers were trapped inside the tunnel when a part of it collapsed on November 12.

Since then, they have been waiting with a bated breath for fresh air and both state and union governments had deployed multiple measures and machineries to rescue the stranded workers, only to embrace back-to-back setbacks. The tunnel was being built between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal - Yamunotri national highway. The workers have access to light and supplies of oxygen, dry food, water, and medicines are being sent through a pipe. 

As part of the rescue operation, the authorities used auger machine for drilling through the rubble. However, it turned out to be another fiasco as the machine was broken and destructed. While speaking to the reporters on Saturday - November 25 in Silkyara, international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix said, "Augering is finished, the auger is broken and destructed." 

It has been reported that the auger machine was facing repeated obstructions during the rescue operations for the past few days. Responding to a question of what are the other options that are being worked out to rescue the workers,  Arnold Dix said that all options are being explored. PTI quoted him saying, "Every door we are opening has its advantages and disadvantages. What we have to ensure is the safety of the rescuers as well as those who are trapped." "I will just say that I have always promised that they would be home by Christmas. If we rush, we can cause another problem in there", Dix added. 

So, what's next? 

After the failure of the auger machine, the authorities are setting out the next course of action to rescue the trapped workers, which would perhaps be a mission of manual drilling. However, the manual drilling exercise would consume more time and another option of vertical drilling is also on the table. According to ANI, manual drillers will cut through the rubble after the heavy auger machine is removed from the pipeline. 

The experts are also considering the option of vertical drilling and it is expected that the manual drilling exercise will start on Sunday - November 26. Addressing a press conference outside the tunnel on Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that a plasma cutter will be used to cut the auger machine that is stuck. 

The Chief Minister said, "The cutter is being airlifted from Hyderabad and is likely to reach Dehradun by tonight. It would then reach Silkyara by late at night. Manual drilling will begin from tomorrow morning." On Friday, the authorities said that the trapped workers have received the last food consignment that included 200 rotis, 23 litres of water, 40 containers of vegetables, and 15 kilos of daal.