Indian officials reach out to Thai cave rescue team amid growing urgency to reach trapped men

Indian authorities have sought international assistance in their efforts to rescue a group of workers who have been trapped deep inside a Himalayan mountain for over 90 hours. In a similar fashion to the successful rescue of a boys soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018, the Indian authorities reached out to the Thai team for support. The 40 men have been stranded since a tunnel collapsed during construction work in Uttarakhand state, and there are growing concerns about their deteriorating health.

Four days following the accident, a high-powered drill was transported by authorities from the capital city of New Delhi to commence the construction of a rescue tunnel on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, outside the entrance of the tunnels, the anger among the relatives of those affected continued to escalate.

Rescue teams inside the Uttarakhand tunnel on November 14, 2023.

Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force/Handout/Reuters

Authorities are actively considering various approaches to reach the individuals, including reaching out to experienced rescue teams for assistance. According to the Uttarkashi District Information Officer, Kirti Panwar, help is being sought from specialized teams from Norway and Thailand.

The rescue team has reached out to the Thai company that successfully saved the children who were trapped in the cave, according to reports. In 2018, a team of expert cave divers managed to rescue twelve boys and their soccer coach, who had been trapped for almost three weeks inside the flooded Tham Luang cave.

CNN has contacted the Thai firm which assisted in the rescue.

Indian authorities have also reached out to the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) to get advice, the statement said.

In a statement Thursday, NGI said its Indian partner, Indian Railways, RVNL, is assisting with the rescue operation but the agency is "not involved now."

Fragile rock

The men, who are migrant laborers from other states, were involved in the construction of a tunnel as part of a ambitious yet controversial project to enhance India's transportation system. Unfortunately, a section of the passageway leading to the entrance collapsed, resulting in their entrapment approximately 60 meters inside the mountain with limited oxygen, food, and water.

Following the collapse, authorities quickly established communication with the men and have been diligently working to rescue them. Assistance is being provided by local police, India's Disaster Management Authority, and the State Disaster Response Fund.

Rescuers initially made efforts to excavate the wreckage in order to access the trapped individuals. However, their progress was hindered by the constant avalanches of debris tumbling into the pit.

Authorities then halted their efforts on Tuesday to create a hole wide enough for the men to crawl to safety, as a landslide obstructed their progress and the machine was deemed inadequate. However, on Wednesday, a more powerful drill was transported by air to successfully establish the escape pipe opening.

Khalkho stated that if the initial plan fails, there are two additional backup plans in place. Every possible option is being considered in order to rescue our brothers. To support the trapped men, oxygen and food packets are being delivered through a smaller pipe, and medical professionals are present on-site to provide assistance. According to a general physician at the scene, some of the men are experiencing concerning symptoms such as headaches and nausea.

Dr. B.S. Pokriyal stated that although limited without direct observation, individuals he spoke to expressed complaints of experiencing vomiting and headaches. They are currently enduring symptoms of anxiety and gastritis. As a means of support, medicines, dry fruits, chickpeas, and puffed rice were sent to assist them. According to Pokriyal, the men have approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) of available space for walking.

Ambitious project

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The tunnel forms a crucial component of the Char Dham Highway project led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This multimillion-dollar infrastructure initiative aims to enhance transportation links in Uttarakhand and facilitate easy access to significant pilgrimage destinations. Uttarakhand, a picturesque state nestled in the mountains and sharing its border with China, is commonly known as "Devbhumi" or the "Land of the Gods" due to its abundant Hindu religious sites and cultural legacy.

Pushkar Singh Dhami/Twitter (X)

Almost 40 workers are currently trapped in a tunnel collapse in the Himalayas, prompting rescuers to take immediate action. The extensive Char Dham Highway project is projected to span an impressive distance of around 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), enhancing connectivity between the state and India's capital, New Delhi. However, the development of this project has resulted in substantial environmental damage, including the massive destruction of forests.

The Himalayan region, already grappling with the consequences of climate change, faces further risk as environmentalists express concerns over the potential damage caused by the project's extensive construction. Experts warn that the intense drilling could significantly compromise the fragile terrain, increasing the likelihood of landslides and flash flooding. Adding to a string of construction accidents in India, the collapse on Sunday highlights the country's ongoing efforts to enhance its infrastructure and invest billions in improving its transportation network.

Over a dozen workers lost their lives in the northeastern state of Mizoram when a bridge under construction collapsed in August. Similarly, in Bihar, the eastern state, a four-lane concrete bridge collapsed for the second time within a span of a year across the River Ganges, raising concerns about the construction standards. Reporting for CNN was done by Heather Chen.