The army officer who led the rescue of 41 workers from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel is now heading a fresh operation, this time in Nepal, where several people remain trapped inside a tunnel in the Chilime area following a devastating flood that struck the region on August 26. Colonel Parikshit Mehra is overseeing the effort to reach a blocked section of the tunnel and bring the trapped people out safely.
Three agencies building a new access route
Teams from the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are working together to carve out an alternative access route to the blocked portion of the tunnel. BRO typically handles road and infrastructure work in border and mountainous regions, while NDRF is trained specifically for disaster rescue operations. Since a direct approach has not been possible, the goal is to build a safe passage that lets rescuers reach the trapped people and lead them out. The work is being carried out through extremely narrow spaces, so every step is being taken with caution.
First glimpse inside from endoscopic cameras
Rescue personnel are slowly making their way through tight passages inside the tunnel as the search continues. Soldiers from the Indian Army and the Nepal Army, along with an NDRF team, are all part of the search effort. Endoscopic cameras were sent in to assess conditions inside the tunnel, and the first images from those cameras have now emerged. Rescuers are using these pictures to gauge the situation inside before deciding on their next steps, so that no move adds further risk.
Australian expert Arnold Dix on the ground
Renowned Australian tunnel expert Arnold Dix is also present at the site, offering technical guidance to the rescue teams. He is helping assess the geological and structural conditions inside the tunnel and advising rescuers accordingly. His presence is considered significant, since even a small misstep during a tunnel rescue can turn into a major hazard.
From Silkyara to Sela, experience that now serves Nepal
Colonel Mehra is leading the Chilime rescue operation. He had earlier played a key role in the operation that safely rescued all 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel accident in Uttarakhand, an 18 day operation that ended successfully. He has also previously been associated with the construction of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. It is this experience that has placed him in a central role in the ongoing rescue effort in Nepal's Chilime.
The push to reach those still trapped continues
For now, all three agencies remain focused on reaching the people trapped inside the tunnel and bringing them out safely as quickly as possible. Once the alternative route is fully ready, rescue teams are expected to move faster. Until then, personnel from the Indian Army, NDRF and BRO continue working without pause, making every effort to reach the trapped people.
