What is ‘Daksh’, DRDO ROV employed in Uttarakhand tunnel collapse rescue op?

Rescue operations continued on Monday at the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi district. To help the authorities in the evacuation of 41 workers stranded inside the partially collapsed tunnel, the Defence Research Development Organisation's robotics team has employed the Remotely Operated Vehicle Daksh. The incident site where the rescue operations will be carried out after a portion of the Silkyara Tunnel collapsed and a number of workers got trapped under it, in Uttarkashi on Monday. The Remote Operated Vehicle – Daksh – is a versatile tool used for detecting and managing improvised explosive devices, surveying nuclear and chemical contamination and handling hazardous objects, according to DRDO. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has initiated preliminary work for vertical drilling from the Barkot end, with BRO already underway in constructing an access road to mobilise machines for ONGC and SJVNL.