Army called in to help in tunnel rescue operation

Personnel from Madras Sappers regiment of the Army’s Corps of Engineers were pressed into service on Sunday to clear the escape passage in the Silkyara tunnel where blades of the auger drilling machine had got lodged on Friday, halting the operation to rescue the 41 trapped workers inside. Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), member of NDMA said that after drilling through the hill, the crust of the tunnel has to be cut. “If it's successful, then the workers will be lifted by buckets one by one,” he added.