{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Silkyara rescue hero Colonel Mehra now leads effort to save people trapped in Nepal's Chilime tunnel",
  "summary": "Colonel Parikshit Mehra, who led the successful rescue of 41 workers from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel, is now heading a similar operation in Nepal's Chilime area, where the Indian Army, NDRF and BRO are building an alternative route to reach people trapped after a devastating flood.",
  "content": "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.\n\nThree agencies building a new access route\nTeams 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.\n\nFirst glimpse inside from endoscopic cameras\nRescue 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.\n\nAustralian expert Arnold Dix on the ground\nRenowned 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.\n\nFrom Silkyara to Sela, experience that now serves Nepal\nColonel 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.\n\nThe push to reach those still trapped continues\nFor 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.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThe accident is not tied to any Indian city directly, but the involvement of the Indian Army, NDRF and BRO means the outcome also reflects on India's disaster-response credibility.\n\n• For families of the trapped people: The new access route raises hopes of a faster rescue. The first images from endoscopic cameras have brought some relief, though a safe evacuation is still awaited.\n• For India's disaster-response teams: The operation is a chance to apply Silkyara-style experience to a new situation. The role of officers like Colonel Mehra strengthens India's technical standing on the international stage.\n• For engineers and workers on tunnel projects: The incident shows how vital alternative escape routes are inside mountain tunnels during floods or landslides, which could push future projects to pay closer attention to safety standards.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. How did people get trapped in the Chilime tunnel?\nA devastating flood on August 26 blocked a section of the tunnel with debris and water, trapping people inside.\n\n2. Which agencies are involved in the rescue operation?\nTeams from the Indian Army, NDRF, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Nepal Army are all part of the effort.\n\n3. Who is leading the rescue operation?\nColonel Parikshit Mehra is leading the operation; he previously led the Silkyara tunnel rescue.\n\n4. Who is Arnold Dix?\nHe is a well-known Australian tunnel expert providing technical guidance during this operation.\n\n5. Has anyone been rescued so far?\nRescue teams are currently building an alternative route to reach the blocked section, and no evacuation has been confirmed yet.\n\n6. What happened in the Silkyara tunnel accident?\n41 workers were trapped there and were safely rescued after an 18 day operation.\n\n7. What is Colonel Mehra's connection to the Sela tunnel?\nHe has also previously been associated with the construction of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/asia/silkyara-reskyu-ke-hiro-karnala-mehra-aba-nepal-ki-chilime-surnga-men-bachava-abhiyana-ki-kamana-snbhala-rahe-hain-28712",
  "category": "Asia",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-06",
  "tags": [
    "Chilime tunnel",
    "Nepal flood",
    "Indian Army rescue",
    "NDRF",
    "BRO",
    "Colonel Parikshit Mehra",
    "Silkyara tunnel",
    "Arnold Dix"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}