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Efforts to rescue 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi entered the 15th day on Monday. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is working to retrieve broken parts of the auger machine while manual and vertical drilling are also being done to make an escape route for the trapped workers.

Meanwhile, two BRO officials were injured after their SUV was hit by a private bus near the Silkyara tunnel site on Sunday afternoon, police said. The accident occurred just half a kilometre away from the tunnel, when three Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials were on the way to the site in their official vehicle.

The rescue operations in Uttarkashi’s Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand were halted again on Friday after the auger machine encountered another glitch. Rescuers say trapped workers are unlikely to come out tonight.

Experts on the site are analysing the debris and trying to figure out if they can push through it or if it can be cut manually.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday took stock rescue operation in the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi and directed the officials that the last phase of the rescue operation should be conducted at a fast pace and with complete caution.

India's Supreme Court on Thursday (Nov 23) agreed to consider numerous petitions on November 28 which are seeking its October 17 judgment's reconsideration that had not granted legal recognition to same-sex couples and stated that only the state legislatures and Parliament have the right to validate their marital unions.

The matter was mentioned before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud by senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi and the CJI was requested to ensure that the review petition is taken up before five judges for consideration on November 28, which is the tentative date given by the court registry.

Two Army officers lost their lives on Wednesday during a confrontation of security forces with terrorists, according to a PTI report quoting officials. A soldier was also injured in the clash that reportedly erupted during a cordon-and-search operation in the Baji Maal area of Dharmsal in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The intense exchange of gunfire continued as two terrorists found themselves cornered at the location. Tragically, two Army captains perished in the firefight, while a jawan sustained injuries. He has been admitted in a hospital for medical attention.

Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies- Technical Campus (VIPS-TC) and National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), Taiwan met on November 20th, 2023 to discuss potential collaboration in areas of linguistics, semiconductors, digital humanities and the field of law. The NCHU delegation was accompanied by Prof. Mumin Chen, Deputy Representative from Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India.

Dr. Jenn-Ming Song, Dean, R&D, NCHU, while presenting to the Board of Management and academic council of VIPS-TC said, “We will be really happy to add VIPS to our map (of Partner Universities in India), and have a really in-depth collaboration. A real collaboration that can benefit the students and faculties mutually will be the biggest goal of our trip.”

Echoing the sentiment of delegation, Vice-Chairman, VIPS-TC, Mr. Suneet Vats said, “Purpose of education for us is clear, we should be creating some value for the society, not just curating syllabi and courses which have become outdated, because there is a humongous task before us in terms of the problems before us that the future generations and present ones are going to encounter, and we need very unique solutions and very unique programmes to cater to those. So, for education to change, its landscape would change, it would be a paradigm shift…that is where the two organizations can come together to understand and appreciate what we can do in terms of creating value to society, and that is where we are largely driven to go together.”

Following the welcome address, Dr. Chou and Dr. Song, Dean R&D from NCHU visited the VIPS-TC Campus, and interacted with deans and faculty members from School of Engineering & Technology, School of Information Technology, School of Law & Legal Studies, School of English Studies and VIPS-TC’s Research Centre (VRC).

The presentation at VIPS-TC’s VLSI lab was led by Vice-Chairman, VIPS-TC, Mr. Vineet Vats. Dr. Song, after the campus tour, made a presentation and delineated the path ahead for potential collaboration in the area of semiconductor research.

Subsequently, the delegation discussed the potential collaborative initiatives such as faculty, student exchange and academic programs.

Dr. Chou, Chi-Chung, Vice President, International Affairs addressing the VIPS-TC delegation said, “We can put together courses designed for the interest of students and can further do so for faculty too.”

Chairman & Founder VIPS-TC, Dr. S.C. Vats, thanked the delegation and those present on the occasion and expressed anticipation for potential collaboration and possible future exchanges between the two institutions, and ended by saying, “Education has to lead to something concrete on the ground which can push the countries’ economies.”

Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies – Technical Campus (VIPS-TC) is a self-financed institute, affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU). The Institute is accredited by NBA, and by NAAC with CGPA 3.58 on 4-point scale with “A++” Grade. VIPS-TC is recognized by UGC under section 2(f) of UGC Act 1956 and approved by AICTE. It is graded A+ by State Fee Regulatory Committee, and ISO 9001:2015 certified. The institute conducts postgraduate programmes, and graduate programmes.

(With inputs from agencies)