Uttarakhand government formed a five-option rescue plan to be carried out by five distinct agencies: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDCL).
Additionally, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) stood ready on the sidelines, offering assistance whenever required.
The first step in the rescue operation focused on ensuring a continuous oxygen supply to the trapped individuals so that they could breathe properly. A compressed air pipe was manoeuvred between the debris for this. Simultaneously, a separate 4-inch pipe was passed through the debris to deliver snacks and dry fruits. These measures were implemented on the first day, November 12th.
Notably, electricity was being supplied in the tunnel, so the trapped individuals weren’t in complete darkness. There was some light. The following day, a rescue plan was devised, involving horizontal drilling to create a passage and passing a pipe through it, that would be big enough for people to crawl through and escape.
