'Fragile terrain not the cause of tunnel collapse but an excuse'

In November 2023, the under-construction Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand collapsed, trapping 41 workers under the rubble. The rescue operation in the 4.5 km tunnel lasted 17 days and involved multiple teams. Australian geologist ARNOLD DIX, who is also the president of Switzerland-based International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, as well as an engineer, a barrister and a farmer, assisted in the mission at India's request. Dix has now written a book on the incident. In an interview with ADITYA MISRA, Dix says the mishap was a failure to adapt construction methods to the rock conditions encountered. Excerpts:

- ADITYA MISRA

How do you remember the incident one year after it happened?

The Uttarakhand rescue feels as vivid as ever—a testament to what can be achieved when people from different backgrounds, disciplines, cultures and roles come together with a shared purpose. This was not just about engineering or problem-solving; it was about how humanitarian missions succeed because of the unyielding determination of countless individuals in a bigger team.

I promised everyone would be rescued and not one of us would get hurt. Our team believed that we could make the impossible possible—and we did. What stands out most was the collaboration across the multiple rescue organisations and teams.

Engineers, miners, welders, cutters, drivers, cooks and technicians all played an essential part in making the rescue succeed. Every challenge we faced was met with collective creativity and resolve.

I am so proud to have been part of the team. The rescue operation also reinforced a truth I have seen time and again: greatness is not achieved alone. The work of hundreds of people, each contributing their unique expertise, wove together to create a miracle. It also highlighted how cultural ties amplify human connections. The Indian community's emotional embrace of this rescue effort reminds me that saving lives transcends borders and builds bonds far greater than we might otherwise imagine.

What were the safety oversights in the way the project was being carried out? Or can such projects not be undertaken without any risk to the people involved?

The scars of 21 prior collapses in the tunnel were stark warnings that things had gone wrong long before this disaster struck. So many prior collapses mean no lessons had been learned. Each collapse should have been an opportunity to pause, re-evaluate, and refine systems and construction methods.