Rescue efforts for 41 construction workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel face multiple challenges, including machine malfunctions and the constant threat of additional collapses. On Tuesday, Nov. 21, rescuers released video footage of construction workers who have been trapped in the tunnel for more than a week in mountainous northern India.
The workers have been stranded since a landslide triggered the collapse of a section of the 2.7-mile tunnel, situated about 500 feet from the entrance, on Sunday, Nov. 12. The hilly terrain, prone to landslides and subsidence, complicates the rescue mission.
“We will reach you all soon, don’t worry,” an official told a trapped worker.
Rescuers initially attempted to drill into the collapsed debris but shifted strategy after days of efforts were hindered by technical malfunctions. The Indian Air Force had to fly in equipment twice.
Authorities are exploring five alternative plans to free the workers, with one involving vertical drilling from the mountaintop. Drilling operations were temporarily suspended on Friday, Nov. 17, due to a machine snag and concerns about the stability of the site.
“If the strata permits, then we would try a 3-foot diameter hole. People can come up from there directly,” R. S. Rao, the director of Border Roads Organisation, said about the vertical drilling plan.
A new American Auger machine has been shipped in, which has a drilling capacity of up to 16 feet per hour and is equipped with a 2.9-foot diameter pipe to clear debris.
About 200 disaster relief personnel have been tirelessly working at the scene. The challenging conditions, combined with the urgency of the situation, demand innovative and meticulous approaches.
State officials have contacted Thai experts who helped rescue a youth soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand in 2018, state government administrator Gaurav Singh said. They have also approached the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute for possible help.
Deepa Gaur, a government spokesperson, said the trapped workers are healthy, and they’re receiving food like nuts, roasted chickpeas and popcorn through a pipe.
The tunnel, part of the Char Dham Highway project, an ambitious federal government initiative to connect four significant Hindu pilgrimage sites, plays a crucial role in the infrastructure development plan. The incident underscores the risks associated with such large-scale projects in geographically complex regions.
