1 of 1 Rescue teams free workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in India Photo: Portal/Francis Mascarenhas Rescue teams free workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in India Photo: Portal/Francis Mascarenhas
For 15 days, 41 workers were trapped in a collapsed tunnel in India. This Monday (27), the rescue teams continue to work to create an access that will allow the victims to be removed.
The collapse occurred on November 12 when the structure of a tunnel under construction in a northern Indian state in the Himalayan mountains partially gave way.
Since then, workers have had access to water, food, oxygen and medicine via a pipe installed on site. Communication with the workers took place via radio.
Rescuers are trying to dig a tunnel so that workers can be safely transported from the site. Machines were even used to drill the stones that trapped the workers. However, the equipment broke.
On Sunday (26), the team began creating another route with the aim of digging a well from the top of the mountain above the workers. On the other hand, rainy weather can make work difficult.
“Difficulties will come, difficulties have arisen, but we are prepared for them,” said Jasvant Kapoor, managing director of the company responsible for the new well.
The collapsed tunnel is part of a highway project aimed at connecting four Hindu pilgrimage sites via 890 kilometers of road.
Although the region is prone to landslides, earthquakes and floods, Indian authorities have not yet revealed the causes of the tunnel collapse.
Workers trapped in tunnel seen for first time in India