Who are rat hole miners, the real heroes behind Uttarkashi tunnel rescue?

Putting their lives on the line, rat hole miners stepped in after the 25-tonne auger machine had broken down during the final stages of the rescue operation. These miners were tasked to manually dig up the remaining 10 meter through the debris horizontally. Once practiced in Meghalaya, rat hole mining is considered extremely risky and was banned by the National Green Tribunal back in 2014. As the entire country rejoices the successful rescue operation at the Silkyara tunnel, we take a look at what rat hole mining is. 

What is Rat Hole Mining? 

The term "rat hole" aptly describes the crude, small-sized tunnels that miners dig into the earth to extract minerals, particularly coal mining. The mining process involves digging narrow, vertical tunnels into the ground.  

When the tunnels, often no wider than a person's shoulders, create a maze like network beneath the earth. The cramped spaces make it challenging for miners to navigate and for rescue operations to be conducted in case of emergencies. 

The Drilling Dilemma 

One of the key challenges in the rescue operation is the need for delicate drilling. Engineers are faced with the task of executing both vertical and horizontal drilling to reach the trapped individuals without causing further harm to the unstable tunnel structure. The complexities of this process are explored in this section. 

The Role of Tunnel Experts and the Indian Army 

Recognizing the specialized nature of the rescue mission, tunnel experts have been called in to provide their expertise. This section explores the significance of their role in guiding the drilling and extraction process. Tunnel expert “Arnold Dix” was roped in for help in this matter recently. 

On the other end the Indian Army has been instrumental in this entire rescue operation, day in day out bringing in specialized equipment and personnel to the rescue. 

Also, proactive involvement of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in overseeing the rescue efforts. His leadership and coordination with central agencies are a crucial part in the ongoing operation.