Tunnel that trapped 40 Indians for four days runs beneath

Indian workers have been trapped in a tunnel for 14 days and were not expected to be rescued until around Christmas; Army sends more machines to the rescue G1

One of two rescue teams works in a tunnel where 41 people were trapped after a partial collapse at a construction site in northern India on October 12, 2023. Photo: Uttarakhand Disaster Response Forces via Portal Rescue teams work in a tunnel where 41 people were trapped after a partial collapse at a construction site in northern India on October 12, 2023. Photo: Uttarakhand Disaster Response Forces via Portal

Last week, authorities concluded the victims would be rescued “soon.” But after a giant drilling machine broke, the forecast became more pessimistic: The rescue might not happen until late December, around Christmas, said Arnold Dix, a tunnel expert who works with Indian officials.

📈Context: This building, which has caused controversy in recent years due to its environmental impact, is intended to create a connection between various Hindu temples beneath the Himalayan mountains. On November 12th it partially collapsed.

Since then, the task force to rescue the workers has made slow progress due to falling debris and damage to drilling machines. For example, a heavy drilling machine broke off just nine meters from the group (see photo below).

2 of 2 Giant drill broke during rescue work for 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in India Photo: Arun Sankar/AFP Giant drill broke during rescue work for 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in India Photo: Arun Sankar/AFP

🔴How are the workers? Last Thursday (30) you could see for the first time since the collapse how the victims were doing (see video below). Through a camera in a thin tube (already used to supply oxygen, food and water), images showed the group exhausted and anxious. Communication with firefighters and family members was via radio.

Workers are seen trapped in a tunnel in India for the first time in 10 days

🔴How big is the place where the men are being held? In the tunnel, workers can occupy a space 8.5 meters high and two kilometers long.

🔴Is there still hope that the rescue will be successful? The Indian Air Force says yes. A new device will perform plasma cutting (a technique similar to welding) to remove the metal bars in the tunnel and attempt to place a large steel pipe through which workers can exit. What makes the operation more difficult is that everything happens above the victims’ location each incident can harm them even more.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced on Saturday (25) that excavation of an 89meterdeep vertical opening would begin to try to reach the tunnel.