'Hanging' tanker on Gambhira bridge to be lifted by placing high-pressure airbags underneath
Gambhira bridge chemical tanker extractionAfter a month of Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara’s Padra, efforts are underway to safely remove a tanker dangling dangerously from the bridge. An air capsule had been placed near the chemical-filled tanker to lift it from the structure on Monday.Anand Collector Pravin Chaudhary said, “A team of marine salvaging expert company from Porbandar will work on the extraction of the tanker for 2-3 days. The work will be monitored from an office accommodated 900 metres away from the site.”Technology will be used including pneumatic airbag, hydraulic strand jacks, engineered horizontal cantilever to extract the chemical tanker.State-of-the-art technology is being deployed to remove the tanker from the bridge. In the first phase, a large balloon has been brought near the tanker. Moreover, a tent has been set up outside the bridge to facilitate the operation. All safety equipment and technical tools have been positioned near the tanker. Long ropes and spare airless balloons are also kept ready in case they are needed.Due to the high-risk nature of the task, each step is being carried out with extreme caution by the authorities. All teams are working in coordination to safely extract the chemical-filled tanker, and it is hoped that the operation will be successfully completed soon.How balloon technology works?The use of balloon technology to rescue a tanker hanging from a weakened bridge is an innovative and safe method. The process is typically carried out in the following stages:1. Assessment of the situationFirst, an expert team closely inspects the tanker’s exact position, weight, how it is trapped, and the surrounding bridge structure. This assessment helps in planning the operation precisely.2. Balloon placementWhen a tanker is dangling from the edge of a bridge, special flexible, high-pressure airbags (balloons) are used to lift it. These balloons are carefully placed beneath the tanker, especially in the areas where it is stuck.3. Controlled inflation processOnce the balloons are properly positioned, they are slowly and carefully inflated in a controlled manner. This causes the hanging portion of the tanker to gradually rise. Specialised balloon trucks and other equipment are used for this stage.4. Securing the tankerAs the tanker is lifted, long ropes and gears are used to stabilize it. These ropes help pull the tanker backward and hold it firmly in place.5. Extraction processOnce the tanker is stable and secured, it is gradually pulled out from the bridge. Special recovery vehicles may be used for this task.This operation is extremely complex and dangerous due to the weight of the tanker, gravitational forces, and the deteriorated condition of the bridge—any mistake could lead to a serious accident. Therefore, a team of experts from Singapore and a marine emergency unit have been brought in to ensure the operation is completed safely.
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| Gambhira bridge chemical tanker extraction |
After a month of Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara’s Padra, efforts are underway to safely remove a tanker dangling dangerously from the bridge.
An air capsule had been placed near the chemical-filled tanker to lift it from the structure on Monday.
Anand Collector Pravin Chaudhary said, “A team of marine salvaging expert company from Porbandar will work on the extraction of the tanker for 2-3 days. The work will be monitored from an office accommodated 900 metres away from the site.”
Technology will be used including pneumatic airbag, hydraulic strand jacks, engineered horizontal cantilever to extract the chemical tanker.
State-of-the-art technology is being deployed to remove the tanker from the bridge. In the first phase, a large balloon has been brought near the tanker. Moreover, a tent has been set up outside the bridge to facilitate the operation. All safety equipment and technical tools have been positioned near the tanker. Long ropes and spare airless balloons are also kept ready in case they are needed.
Due to the high-risk nature of the task, each step is being carried out with extreme caution by the authorities. All teams are working in coordination to safely extract the chemical-filled tanker, and it is hoped that the operation will be successfully completed soon.
How balloon technology works?
The use of balloon technology to rescue a tanker hanging from a weakened bridge is an innovative and safe method. The process is typically carried out in the following stages:
1. Assessment of the situation
First, an expert team closely inspects the tanker’s exact position, weight, how it is trapped, and the surrounding bridge structure. This assessment helps in planning the operation precisely.
2. Balloon placement
When a tanker is dangling from the edge of a bridge, special flexible, high-pressure airbags (balloons) are used to lift it. These balloons are carefully placed beneath the tanker, especially in the areas where it is stuck.
3. Controlled inflation process
Once the balloons are properly positioned, they are slowly and carefully inflated in a controlled manner. This causes the hanging portion of the tanker to gradually rise. Specialised balloon trucks and other equipment are used for this stage.
4. Securing the tanker
As the tanker is lifted, long ropes and gears are used to stabilize it. These ropes help pull the tanker backward and hold it firmly in place.
5. Extraction process
Once the tanker is stable and secured, it is gradually pulled out from the bridge. Special recovery vehicles may be used for this task.
This operation is extremely complex and dangerous due to the weight of the tanker, gravitational forces, and the deteriorated condition of the bridge—any mistake could lead to a serious accident. Therefore, a team of experts from Singapore and a marine emergency unit have been brought in to ensure the operation is completed safely.
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