Bold Vertical Rescue Efforts Launched as Himalayan Tunnel Rescue Mission Faces Obstacles

Rescuers are now facing a dangerous new phase in their weeks-long mission to save 41 workers trapped in a collapsed Himalayan tunnel. After a safer route failed at the final stage, they are now attempting to drill downward through unstable mountain terrain. The men have been stuck since November 12, when the tunnel they were working on in India's northern Uttarakhand state collapsed, blocking their only exit with more than 60 meters (200 feet) of debris.

Previously, engineers had tried to clear the debris from the exit shaft, but had to stop their efforts on Friday when the drill they were using, made in the US, broke down just a few meters from the trapped men. This was the latest setback in the complex and challenging operation, with officials previously suggesting a rescue was imminent, only to have to stop due to changing conditions.

Authorities are currently making efforts to manually clear the remaining debris in the exit tunnel, while also drilling down from a forested hill located 86 meters (282 feet) above the trapped men.

India airlifted a high-powered drilling machine to assist in the rescue of dozens of road workers trapped underground.

AshokKumar_IPS/X

As of Monday, the vertical drilling had reached a depth of 35 meters (114 feet), and the estimated completion of the work is by Thursday, according to Mahmood Ahmed, the secretary of India's Ministry of Road Transport Highways. Despite this progress, geologists have cautioned that vertical drilling poses a risk, as it may potentially destabilize the delicate mountain and lead to more debris falling into the already compromised tunnel chamber.

Yaspal Sundriyal, a geology professor from H.B. Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, explained to CNN that the rock types in the Himalayas are particularly fragile. He also warned that vertical drilling could disrupt the rock formation and send vibrations through the mountain. Sundriyal, known for his expertise in local rock formations, emphasized the potential risks involved.

Harpal Singh, former director of India's Border Roads Organization, stated that both vertical and horizontal drilling are safe. He also mentioned that it is challenging to determine which method would be more effective in reaching the trapped workers first.

Families face agonizing wait

The men trapped under the rubble, who are migrant workers from some of India's most impoverished states, have been provided with food, water, and oxygen through a 53-meter (173 foot) pipe inserted into the debris. Officials have stated that they are still in good health.

The on-site doctors have maintained frequent communication with the men inside, providing them with advice on staying positive and calm. However, for the majority of the trapped men's families, the waiting period has been a painful cycle of hope and despair.

One of the trapped workers can be seen on camera.

Uttarakhand Government Assistance

Mahi Shah, whose brother-in-law Sonu is still trapped, expressed that their family was not informed about the incident until his grandfather read about the collapse in the newspaper on November 14th.

Shah quickly boarded a train from his home in the eastern Bihar state of India in order to be closer to Sonu, he confirmed. Alongside other relatives, he has been gathering at the tunnel exit every day to pray next to a makeshift temple.

Shah expressed that the fear Sonu feels is escalating, especially with his seven-year-old daughter continuously asking about her father's whereabouts. They have chosen not to disclose the truth to her yet, hoping it won't be necessary. The entire household is filled with fear.

Krishna Chauhan, whose 21-year-old nephew Manjeet is trapped inside, expressed that the ordeal is a painful reminder of a tragic incident their family experienced almost two years ago. Manjeet's older brother, who was also a construction worker, tragically lost his life due to an electric shock while working in Mumbai. Chauhan shared that the family is still struggling to come to terms with this loss and emphasized that Manjeet is the one who keeps them united.

They are holding onto hope that Manjeet will walk out of the tunnel safely.

Coming home by Christmas

The tunnel forms a crucial section of the Char Dham Highway route, an ambitious and contentious project spearheaded by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This multimillion dollar initiative aims to modernize the country's transportation infrastructure and enhance accessibility to key Hindu pilgrimage destinations in the area.

However, the project has faced backlash from environmental advocates, who argue that the extensive construction poses a significant threat to the delicate Himalayan ecosystem, which is already reeling from the effects of the climate crisis impacting millions in the region.

Video shows the moment rescuers send a camera through a pipe inserted into the tunnel debris.

Uttarakhand Government Handout

New video shows trapped laborers alive in Himalayan tunnel but rescue still no closer

The Supreme Court of India was informed by a panel of experts that the construction of highways could worsen the existing sensitive environment by causing more landslides and soil erosion, as stated in a 2020 court report.

The authorities are looking into the reasons behind the tunnel collapse and will likely investigate the impact of mountain drilling. CNN has reached out to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in India for comment.

Tunneling expert Anrold Dix, an Australian engineer who flew to India to consult on the rescue effort, emphasized the priority of safety in the operation. "With each option, we are considering how to ensure the safe return of the 41 men and avoid causing harm to anyone," Dix told reporters on Friday.