Indian Rescuers Make Significant Progress in Reaching Trapped Workers
Rescuers in India make progress as they surpass the halfway mark in their determined efforts to reach trapped workers beneath a partially collapsed tunnel in the majestic Himalayas
Rescuers in India made significant progress on Wednesday as they drilled past the halfway mark in their efforts to reach workers trapped in a partially collapsed tunnel in the Himalayas.
Forty-one laborers were trapped in India's northern Uttarakhand state after part of the tunnel's entrance collapsed on November 12, prompting an urgent rescue mission.
Authorities reported on Wednesday that the operation has made significant progress using heavy machinery, successfully drilling through two-thirds of the rubble to reach the workers who have been trapped for over a week. A press release from state authorities stated that a total of 39 meters of drilling had been completed using an Auger machine, emphasizing that the progress was made at a rapid pace.
There is believed to be a total distance of 60 meters worth of debris between the rescuers and those trapped, authorities said earlier.
People stand near the entrance to the site of the collapsed tunnel in northern India on Friday.
Rahul Grover/AP
A high-powered drilling machine is airlifted in to assist in the tunnel rescue.
Dr. Neeraj Khairlanji, a senior government official, told reporters on Wednesday, "If there are no more obstacles, we may have some positive news by later tonight or early morning."
Earlier this month, workers were trapped behind a pile of rubble with limited oxygen and water following an incident. Soon after the collapse, authorities made contact with the men and coordinated a mission to safely rescue them, with assistance from local police, India's Disaster Management Authority, and State Disaster Response Fund.
Rescuers achieved their first success in the operation by successfully inserting a 53-meter (174 ft) pipe through the rubble on Monday. This allowed them to deliver a hot meal of lentils, water, medicines, and oxygen to the trapped laborers. On Tuesday, a second pipeline was installed to provide more food to the workers.
The tunnel is a crucial component of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Char Dham Highway project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity in Uttarakhand and facilitating access to key pilgrimage sites. Uttarakhand, a scenic and mountainous state bordering China, is commonly known as "Devbhumi" or "Land of the Gods" due to its cultural significance and numerous Hindu religious landmarks.
