Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: What Is Rat-Hole Mining, 'Banned' Technique Being Used To Rescue 41 Trapped Workers

Rat-hole miners from across the country joined the rescue operations in the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse to evacuate 41 laborers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara passage for over a fortnight since November 12. Rescuers resorted to rat-hole mining through which the trapped workers will be brought out of the tunnel via manual drilling. The move came after the failure of the heavy auger machine to drill through the rubble, creating an escape passage for the 41 people.

Rat-hole miners are individuals who have specialised skills in tunneling. At least 12 experts have been deployed by Trenchless Engineering Services Private Limited and Navayuga Engineers Private Limited to apply the rat-hole mining technique to excavate horizontally in the collapsed part of the main structure.

What Is Rat-Hole Mining?

Usually associated with Meghalaya, where holes are drilled for mining coal in small quantities, the manual digging technique refers to the excavation of extremely narrow tunnels, typically around 3 to 4 feet in depth within which workers, often children extract minerals.

Rat-hole mining was banned in 2014 by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) citing its unscientific nature and the risks that it poses to workers. Despite the ban, the mining method continues and has also contributed to several fatalities in the challenging terrains where it takes place.

'Rat mining' borrows its name from its resemblance to rats burrowing through narrow channels.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Visuals from the Silkyara tunnel where the operation to rescue 41 workers is ongoing.

Manual drilling is going on inside the rescue tunnel and auger machine is being used for pushing the pipe. As per the last update, about 2… pic.twitter.com/26hw32fChI

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

Rat-Miners Speak

As the burrowing began on Monday, few of the miners spoke to media persons and showed confidence that they would be able to successfully evacuate the workers from the dark passage very soon.

"We have been doing it for more than 10 years and there's enough space for us. The 41 men are also labourers and we all want to bring them out," Rakesh Rajput one of the miners said.

"Three of us will go inside the tunnel, one will do the drilling the other will collect muck and the third one will push the muck through the trolley," he said.

Explaining the process an official said, "They will have to drill at least 10 to 12 metres with their own hands. They will mostly use two tools -- hand-held drilling machines to remove the rubble and gas cutters for cutting the iron hurdles."

Speaking to news agency ANI on Tuesday morning, Naseem, one of the workers said that they have already done 5 metres of manual drilling work so far, and 51 metres have been completed in totality.

"51 metres of drilling is completed. We have done 5 metres inside through manual drilling. We are going inside the 800 mm pipe and about 6 metres of drilling work is left. It won't take much long, we will complete it in 24 hours, and will bring our boys out soon," Naseem said.

"We are a team of 12 specialists and 2 workers go inside the tunnel at a time. We are going inside the 800 mm pipe, and yes, it is challenging but we are trying to complete it sooner," he said.

As per official sources, about 57 metres of drilling work from the mouth of the tunnel, is to be done in total to lay a pipe inside the tunnel to reach the trapped workers.

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Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse Rescue Updates

With just five metres left to achieve a breakthrough in digging through the rubble of the Silkyara tunnel, preparations got underway on Tuesday to rush the trapped workers to a hospital for immediate medical care following their rescue.

A separate ward comprising 41 oxygen-supported beds has been readied at the community health centre in Chinyalisaur, about 30 km from Silkyara, for the workers.

The road outside the tunnel, which became uneven due to regular movement of heavy vehicles over the past fortnight was being repaired and a fresh layer of soil was being laid for smooth movement of ambulances.

The relatives of the 41 trapped workers have been asked to be prepared and keep the clothes and bags of the workers ready. The workers will be taken to Chinyalisaur Hospital after being rescued and brought out.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who has been monitoring the rescue operation told reporters today morning that almost 52 metres of drilling work has been done so far in totality.

"All the experts have been working for a long time. 52 metres of drilling work has been done, everyone is fine, everyone is full of energy. We hope the work will be completed as soon as possible. The manner in which the work is ongoing, we hope that there will be a breakthrough very soon," CM Dhami said.

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