Meet Arnold Dix, the Australian professor who provided technical support in the rescue of 41 workers

After a harrowing 17-day ordeal, all 41 trapped workers in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi, within the Silkyara tunnel, have been successfully rescued.

Initially marred by challenges, the rescue operation found success only after the involvement of an international tunnel expert, Professor Arnold Dix, in the final critical phase of the mission.

Professor Dix, an Australian expert, is lauded for his instrumental role in the successful completion of the rescue operation, a mission that kept Uttarakhand authorities on high alert since the workers became trapped on November 12, 2023.

Who is Arnold Dix?

• President of the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (Geneva).
• Holds Science and Law Degrees from Monash University, Melbourne.
• His professional expertise is in Risk Assessment/Disaster Evaluations, known for delivering transparent findings for disaster management.
• With over three decades of experience, his career primarily revolves around underground safety.
• Engaged in volunteer work with the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) from 2016 to 2019, aiding in developing responses for underground incidents.
• In 2020, he joined Lord Robert Mair Peter Vickery QC to form the Underground Works Chamber.

Silkyara tunnel rescue effort

• Professor Dix arrived at the site on November 20 to assess the tunnel.
• Initially expressing uncertainty about the mountain's collapse, he highlighted the challenge in understanding the terrain.
• Despite uncertainties, Dix assured authorities that the workers would be rescued before Christmas, which happened ahead of schedule.
• He was seen offering prayers for the workers' safety outside the temple.

Arnold Dix's post-mission statement

• Expressing contentment after the successful rescue, Dix highlighted the satisfaction of reuniting the trapped workers with their families.
• He praised the collaborative effort of engineers, the military, various agencies, and federal authorities in ensuring the mission's success.
• Acknowledged the numerous challenges faced during the mission but emphasized the determination to bring the workers home safely.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Dix's role in the rescue mission, commending Indian authorities' achievement.

The rat-mining process

• Dix and other engineers resorted to the rat-mining method, manual drilling, after the Augur machine failed.
• A method commonly used in northeastern India, particularly Meghalaya, for coal extraction, proved effective.
• Following partial machine drilling, the rest of the drilling was accomplished manually.
• The workers were safely retrieved on the evening of November 28, 2023, and underwent medical tests at the site.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi later connected with the workers via video call, inquiring about their well-being.