Auger machine blades stuck, plasma cutter needed, says CM Dhami as hurdles continue in Uttarakhand tunnel rescue

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reported on Saturday that the auger machine's blades, used to penetrate the debris of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel, have become lodged in the rubble.

"The blades of the auger machine were stuck inside the rubble which forced us to cut it. We expect that we would be able to remove the machine by tomorrow morning. A plasma cutter has been called from Hyderabad (for cutting blades of the auger machine)," the CM said.



The Chief Minister informed reporters about the current obstacle in the ongoing rescue operation for 41 workers who have been trapped in the tunnel for the past 13 days. He noted that a segment of the blades has been partially cut through, and efforts are underway to airlift a plasma cutter from Hyderabad to complete the remaining task.