Saving perfect 41

“Our job in ‘Operation Zindagi’ was to give the data about the tunnel’s structure. To save the people without any design or plan in the harsh terrain was a big challenge. We had to provide timely, reliable and close to accurate data with cutting-edge technology battling erratic internet connection in the hills.”

Cyriac Joseph, MD & CEO of Squadrone Infra & Mining Pvt. Ltd

It has been two months since the Silkyara Tunnel collapse shocked every Indian. Encouragingly, work has now commenced at the site in Uttarakhand, and the crucial landmark along the Char Dham Yatra route in Uttarkashi is limping back to normalcy.

Back in Bangalore, Cyriac Joseph, MD & CEO of Squadrone Infra & Mining Pvt. Ltd, reflects on how he and his young team were called upon at a short notice to assist in what he describes as “one of greatest rescue missions in India” – “Operation Zindagi”.

“41 workers were trapped for a week. On the eighth day, I received a call from Border Roads Organisation’s (BRO) Brig. Vishal Verma and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation’s (NHIDCL) Col. Deepak Patil, seeking assistance from my 6-year-old startup firm for the ongoing rescue operations,” he said, remembering the way he jumped at the opportunity without much deliberations.

Joseph recalled how he immediately air-dashed six of his team members to Uttarkashi as his young team in Bangalore got busy setting the backend process. But, shortly after realising the magnitude of the mission and the steep challenge it posed, he flew to the site. And the rest, they say is history.

Being a Bangalorean in the rescue team and beaming with interesting details about the successful mission, Our Bangalore caught up with Joseph for an interview and in an exclusive chat, the seasoned mining engineer divulged details of a thrilling mission, which till now, are only known to the rescuers who worked on ground-zero. Read on…

It was on November 21, the eighth day of the rescue operation, that I received a call and sent six of our engineers immediately to Uttarkashi. We knew what the operation would entail; therefore, I was assisting the team in Bangalore to setup the backend operations. Once the boys reached Uttarkashi, I sensed it wasn’t going to be easy; so along with two more engineers, I left the next day for the site with another set of equipment.

Joseph: Our job in ‘Operation Zindagi’ was to give the data about the tunnel’s structure. To save the people without any design or plan in the harsh terrain was a big challenge. We had to provide timely, reliable and close to accurate data with cutting-edge technology battling erratic internet connection in the hills.

Joseph: We played with technology, giving 3-D models of the data. The team in Uttarkashi would upload the captures for our backend team. And they would further work on them and play it back to us in the hills. The teams were working 24*7, seamlessly.

Joseph: That’s right. We had a credible rescue team—BRO, PMO, defence, Arnold Dix and Chris Cooper. Based on our information, they made some informed decisions which accelerated the rescue operations. They found our information very valuable during the operation.

Joseph: The autonomous drone, adept at flying in dark and hazardous areas without GPS, helped us in planning a rescue. On the surface, we had GPS and drones. Our Ground Predating Radars (GPR) has the capability of sensing 100 metres below the ground. Once a collapse happens, till the tunnel achieves stability, there could be further collapse. Our cutting-edge technology focused on continuous data collection. The drones provided valuable insights into the condition of the rocks and the surface.

Joseph: The initial collapse spanned 60 meters, with the first 47 meters drilled rapidly. Beyond that point, challenges arose as the machine encountered concrete and steel, both of which collapsed. Our drone ventured until the collapsed site, assessing the cavity and roof condition to gauge the risk of further collapse, ensuring safety for both trapped individuals and rescuers. Acting on our findings and acknowledging tunnel instability, rescue operations were halted for approximately 9 hours. Subsequent reinforcement allowed operations to resume safely.

Joseph: The vertical hole was initially being dug to reach 40 meters into the tunnel. However, drilling horizontally posed challenges, with the drills frequently failing and requiring cutting and removal. This is where the rat-hole miners stepped in and performed exceptionally. They entered the hole, digging with their hands and cutting through steel obstacles, gradually advancing into the tunnel. While technology spearheaded the operation, ’they were the true heroes’.

Joseph: The psychologist played a crucial role, utilising a 6-inch pipe for supplies to reach the trapped workers. Endoscopy cameras were inserted, and the workers were encouraged to practice yoga. Items like playing cards, cricket bats, and balls were sent down. Emotional management became a key aspect for both the workers and rescuers, especially during the initial days when progress seemed stagnant until the tenth day. In short, it was a game of motivation, courage, technology and the blessings of every Indian.

Joseph: Initially unfamiliar with our latest technology, they expressed their appreciation on the third day of the rescue operation. They were amazed by the crucial data we provided and acknowledged the prowess of Indian technology. Successfully rescuing all 41 workers marked a historic achievement.

Curious Titbits

• Small tables transformed into makeshift workplaces.
• Agencies, including PMO representatives, operated from containers.
• Sandbags served as beds for rescuers inside the tunnel.
• In freezing temperatures, humble dal and rice provided refreshing sustenance.
• Pipes repurposed as dining tables for meals.
• Solar heaters failed, resulting in cold water baths in 6-degree temperature without sun for nearly three days.

Silkyara Tunnel collapse survivor, Sabah Ahmad, recounts the harrowing ordeal of being trapped with 40 others in the debris for 17 ‘long’ days.

It was 5:30 am on November 12 when Sabah Ahmad, Tunnel Foreman I, from Tiar village in Bhojpur district, Bihar, was going about his duties in a pickup truck, inspecting the work of various departments under him in the Silkyara Tunnel.

By then, a section of the under-construction tunnel had already collapsed.

Ahmad, the most senior member among the workers, was 2.5 km ahead of the collapse site, unaware of the unfortunate incident until a co-worker informed him. Attempting to reverse his vehicle to escape, he missed the opening by 200 meters. He became the 41st person to be rescued from the Silkyara Tunnel on November 28.

An arts graduate, Ahmad refers to himself as a “one-man army”, supporting his family of six—aged and ailing parents, wife, and three children.

“Upon hearing the news of my entrapment in the tunnel, my mother, with a heart ailment, went mute until my return,” laments Ahmad. His father, also a patient, tried to put on a brave front by interacting with the media and expressing hope for Ahmad’s return. His 30-year-old wife, Musarrat Jahan, had no choice but to show courage for the sake of their young children aged 7, 3.5, and 1.5, respectively.

The Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious “Char Dham” project, aiming to connect the four holy sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

The tunnel is 4.5 km long, measuring 10 meters in height and 14 meters in width. According to Ahmad, due to the tunnel’s collapse, the oxygen pipeline was affected.

Fortunately, as the water pipeline was in a safe zone, Ahmad, with his presence of mind, opened the water pipeline to restore the oxygen supply, which took about 19 hours.

The resumption of oxygen supply was like a fresh lease of life for the stranded workers. “The situation was similar to the trending movie Mission Raniganj on the OTT platform,” reminisces Ahmad.

Since the tunnel collapse, the workers remained hungry for over 2 days, relying on puffed rice, banana peels, and almond skins to satiate their hunger. On the 9th day, the multi-agency rescue operation managed to establish contact with the trapped workers by installing a 6-inch pipe.

“We started receiving milk, khichdi, and dry fruits through the pipe,” recalls Ahmad. He also details the arrangements made by the rescuers to entertain the stranded workers inside the tunnel. “The rescue team tore the log book and made playing cards for us, which we used to play inside the tunnel.”

The geotextile fabric used in the tunnel construction became their blankets and sheets.

Throughout his 14 years of experience, Ahmad has been working with Navayuga Engineering Construction Limited (NECL), engaged in the construction of the Char Dham project.

Though Ahmed considers the miraculous rescue operation as his rebirth and thanks the Almighty for giving him another life, he is fearful of returning to tunnelling work.

“Now that I’ve burnt my fingers, I don’t think I would resume this work. However, life has to go on, and to sustain life, I’m contemplating starting a hardware business close to my hometown,” asserts Ahmad.