Bhubaneswar: An auger machine has been sent from Sambalpur to Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district to rescue 41 workers, including five from Odisha, trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel.

According to reports, the machine was being used by a construction company for Hindalco in Sambalpur's Hirakud. The Central Government had written a letter to the Odisha Chief Secretary seeking usage of the machine in the rescue work.

The machine was transported to Uttarkashi in a green corridor, the journey of which started on November 21. It was initially dismantled and transported in a train from Sambalpur to Raipur. It was then taken to Gwalior in trailer trucks. Eventually, the dismantled machine was shifted to Uttarkashi from Gwalior in an aircraft of the Indian Air Force and later assembled for the rescue operation, reports said.

The process was monitored by Central Government, NHAI and Railways Ministry.

On the other hand, the rescue operation was halted after the platform supporting the auger machine which was drilling through the debris collapsed on Thursday evening.

Uttarkashi DM Abhishek Ruhela, who also reached the tunnel site on the day, said that the rescue operation is almost in the final stages. "A pipeline is being laid in the tunnel to evacuate the workers. The pieces of steel stuck in the debris have been removed. Hopefully, positive results will come soon."