PANJIM: Rat-hole miners, experts in digging through tunnels have surely pulled off what has been one of the country’s toughest disaster rescue efforts. But in those deep lonely tunnels surrounded by debris, doubt and dread, help came from two Goan engineers, Amogh Gudekar and Asif Mulla.
Mulla and Gudekar undertook drone-based imagery, Geo-physical survey, measurements and collecting data to help the drilling team to speed up rescue. The duo who work in Bangalore based Squadron Infra and Mining Pvt Ltd, are equipped with the latest tech for tunnel rescues.
Amogh Gudekar is a Geo Informatics expert and Asif Mulla is a Mining Engineer.
Speaking to O Heraldo after sending their video-recorded comments, Mullah said that the army reached out to their company asking if volunteers in geo-mapping, surveys, imagery and data collection could be sent to aid in the mission. “We immediately volunteered,” he said proudly.
Finally, when the rat-hole miners entered the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, to deploy the rat-hole mining technique horizontally in the collapsed part of the main structure, they needed imagery, exact locations and drone images, these Goan boys came to the rescue.
“As Goans, we are very proud to be here,” said Mulla and Gudekar after a successful rescue mission on Tuesday night.
Asif Mulla who is from Usgao has studied at Matoshiri Indirabai Baburao Khandeparker (MIBK) School, and Amogh Gudekar who is from Ponda, has studied at Almeida School in Ponda. They then pursued their higher studies at the GVM College, which has proudly acknowledged the efforts put in by two of their ex-students. (See box)
The technology and expertise that the Goan Engineer duo brought into the rescue mission helped the operations with analytics and imagery data, making the mission possible.
Gudekar explained that the climate in Uttarkashi was extremely cold and the entire crew and teams conducted the exercise in difficult conditions.
“We have shown the world that Goans can work in difficult conditions and make our State proud,” said Gudekar.
Parents of two young Goan engineers proud of their sons
PONDA: Parents of two young Goan engineers, who were involved in the rescue operations of the 41 workers who were trapped in an Uttarakhand tunnel for 17 days, were overjoyed to know about their sons’ contributions.
Amogh Gudekar, a geo-informatics expert and Asif Mulla, a mining engineer, passed out from Goa Engineering College (GEC). They are employed at Bangalore-based Squadrone Infra & Mining Private Limited, for the past two years and were providing their expertise during the rescue operations.
Arun Gudekar, father of Amogh Gudekar, said that like the entire country, he too was worried and upset over the incident.
“But today, I am very happy that all 41 workers were successfully rescued alive. I feel proud that my son Amogh and another Goan engineer Asif, contributed to the rescue operations,” Arun Gudekar said.
When contacted over phone, Asif Mulla resident of Usgao, said his parents and two sisters were thrilled over the successful rescue operation and were proud of his contribution in the rescue operation.
“Around nine members from Squadrone joined the rescue operations teams. Being engineers, our team’s role was to provide expertise for the rescue operations, including drilling work, which was facing several hurdles. I feel very proud about being part of a successful rescue team,” Mulla said.