Officials could not make any progress in rescuing the 41 workers as drilling could not resume Friday. Just 10-12 more metres of debris remain to be drilled inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi before evacuation pipes can be installed. A metal object damaged equipment blades halting operations. Senior officials hope to establish contact Saturday if no more hurdles emerge. On Thursday, the drilling platform got destabilized after the drill bit damaged tunnel steel pipes. The evacuation pipe got warped, narrowing its mouth so the machine couldn't push through. Officials said chopping 1.2m off the pipe took 7-8 hours. With at least the fifth obstruction hitting drilling, GPR scanning is being used to check the remaining debris. After a series of obstacles, the risky Uttarakhand tunnel rescue hopes to break through by Saturday barring any new setback.

In a setback to the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue mission, operations came to a standstill as the auger machine encountered another technical snag. The machine, having drilled 46.8 meters, is mere steps away from the debris's end. Experts assess the situation, considering manual cutting. Former advisor Bhaskar Khulbe expresses optimism, revealing strengthened platforms and ongoing welding efforts. Union Minister VK Singh monitors on-site, while Prime Minister Modi seeks updates. With challenges persisting, caution prevails, emphasizing the complex nature of this ongoing rescue operation in Uttarakhand.

Vibhuti Patel, owner of Raniba Industries Pvt. Ltd. in Morbi, faces charges for allegedly assaulting and humiliating Dalit employee Nilesh Dalsaniya over a salary dispute. The FIR reveals a distressing incident where Dalsaniya was beaten, filmed confessing under duress, and forced to hold Patel's footwear in his mouth. The accused, including Patel and others, face charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The police are actively searching for the accused involved in this appalling act of abuse and discrimination against a Dalit worker.

In a crucial development, officials report that merely 10-12 meters of drilling stand between rescuers and the 41 workers entombed in Uttarakhand's collapsed tunnel for the past 13 days. Encouragingly, ground penetrating radar signals no significant metal obstacles for the next 5 meters. Despite a setback involving a metal pipe entangling the drilling blades, the team is optimistic that welding and pushing in two more pipes, each 6 meters in length, could lead to a breakthrough. However, caution prevails, as unexpected hurdles might emerge, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of this arduous rescue operation.

Officials said the 41 workers trapped for 13 days in a collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel will be rescued by pulling them out one-by-one on wheeled stretchers through a passage created by pushing a big pipe through the rubble. The NDRF demonstrated the technique in a video, showing a stretcher attached to a rope being pulled through the tunnel. Workers will lie flat on stretchers to avoid scraping the welded pipe roof during the extraction by rope. Initially, rescuers considered making them crawl out but their condition may prevent it after 13 days without light and meals. Instead, they will carefully pull out each worker strapped onto a wheeled stretcher through the newly created tunnel. After nearly two weeks of tireless efforts, officials believe the complex rescue operation to evacuate 41 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand is likely to conclude today. 

After nearly two weeks of tireless efforts, officials believe the complex rescue operation to evacuate 41 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand is likely to conclude today. However, authorities caution against predicting a timeline, likening the challenging operation to 'war'. Drilling restarts at 11am after a technical halt. Personnel are fully prepared to safely extract workers on stretchers once a pathway is cleared. Chief Minister Dhami has set up camp on-site to monitor progress. With drilling in its final phase, there is hope the trapped workers will finally see light at the end of the tunnel after 12 arduous days.

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport faced a bomb threat as an email from an unknown sender demanded one million dollars in Bitcoin within 48 hours to prevent an explosion at Terminal 2. The email, received by 38-year-old Visyam Pathak, triggered heightened security measures across all airport terminals. Authorities registered a case under IPC sections 385 and 505(1)(b) against the unknown sender. Terminal operations and relevant departments were promptly informed. This incident follows a similar hoax bomb threat in September, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in ensuring airport security.

Rescue efforts in Uttarakhand's Sikyara tunnel faced setbacks due to persistent obstacles, including iron girders, causing delays in clearing the collapsed section. The option of employing skilled manual cutters is being explored as the auger machine encountered interruptions during horizontal drilling. Progress has reached 45-47 meters, with 17-20 meters remaining. Government officials cautiously refrain from specifying a breakthrough timeline, emphasizing preparedness for potential hurdles. National Disaster Relief Force teams conduct rehearsals, prioritizing stretcher-based evacuation, estimating a 3-4 hour operation post-rescue. Basic needs of stranded workers are met, and a detailed medical check-up is planned after rescue.

Rescue efforts in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel encounter hurdles as the auger machine, critical for freeing 41 trapped workers, faces "some difficulties" again, reveals international expert Arnold Dix. Drilling, halted previously due to an iron girdle, now pauses for repairs after technical snags. Despite setbacks, Dix remains optimistic about cautious progress. National Disaster Management Authority warns against undue pressure on rescuers, emphasizing the challenge's complexity. As repairs proceed, the possibility of success in the next few hours or by Friday gives hope for the trapped workers. The 12-day-long rescue operation navigates challenges with determination.      

In a challenging two-day operation in the Kalakote region of Jammu, two army officers and three jawans lost their lives battling terrorists in dense Pir Panjal range forests. The encounter involved a Lashkar-e-Taiba sniper and explosives expert, identified as Quari, who had been on the run since November 19. Captain MV Pranjal of 63 Rashtriya Rifles was fatally shot while gathering information. Major DS Mehra and others faced gunfire attempting to rescue him. Despite evacuating Major Mehra, Captain Shubham Gupta and two jawans lost their lives. The operation faced further complications as Pakistan attempted to drop arms via drones. Paratrooper Sachin Laur succumbed during the mission. The challenging terrain and low visibility contributed to the intensity of the encounter.