At the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse site in the Uttarkashi district, rescue efforts resumed on Monday. The robotics team at the Defence Research Development Organisation has used the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Daksh to assist the authorities in evacuating 41 personnel who became trapped within the partially collapsed tunnel. The machinery is made especially to operate on a motorized pan-tilt platform, which can assist in getting to the hazardous area.
What is Daksh ROV?
According to DRDO, the Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Daksh is a flexible instrument used for handling hazardous materials, scanning areas of nuclear and chemical pollution, and identifying and controlling improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It can work for three hours straight and climb ladders. It can also operate across distances of more than one hundred to five hundred meters. Daksh assists the army, police, and paramilitary forces’ bomb disposal units (BDU) in disposing of IEDs and other hazardous materials. With its motorized pan-tilt platform, the ROV Daksh may be operated remotely from a distance of 500 meters.
Hazardous items up to 20 kilograms, when viewed from 2.5 meters and 9 kg when viewed from 4 meters. It can be handled by its manipulator’s arm. Daksh shows that he can navigate steep hills and ascend stairs because of his robust rubber wheels, which can endure explosion strikes. When fully charged, it can haul suspected platforms and run nonstop for three hours. It has a shotgun, a master control station (MCS), nuclear biological chemical (NBC) reconnaissance equipment, several cameras, and IED handling instruments.
An MCS and ROV Daksh are transported on a carrier truck that is specifically built for deployment and mobility.
Additional companies operating at the tunnel location
Essential supplies have been sent to the stranded laborers via a 4-inch compressor pipeline. They have been receiving supplies such as pharmaceuticals, dried fruits, puffed rice, and chickpeas.
For the purpose of supplying food, the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is now building a new 6-inch pipeline. After safety precautions are taken, they want to proceed with drilling from Silkyara’s end. Having already completed 39 of the 60 meters.
For necessary supplies, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is developing a different type of vertical pipeline. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed building an access road for RVNL’s convenience in order to assist this endeavor. The Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation (THDC) has mobilized heavy gear and is ready to start micro tunneling from the Barkot end. Vertical drilling will be done by Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) in order to help free the stranded laborers.
Equipment from Gujarat and Odisha has been brought in to assist these operations. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has started the initial stages of vertical drilling from the Barkot end. BRO is now building an access road to allow ONGC and SJVNL to transport equipment.
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