Race Against Time to Rescue 41 Trapped Workers in Collapsed Indian Tunnel
Rescue teams in northern India have switched gears in a desperate bid to save 41 construction workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel. After initial attempts were blocked by debris and technical glitches, rescuers are now drilling vertically from the top of a hill to reach the men.
Trapped Workers Survive on Nuts and Chickpeas
The workers have been stranded since November 12, living on a scarce diet of nuts and roasted chickpeas sent down a pipe. The 4.5-kilometre tunnel, part of the Chardham all-weather road project connecting sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites, gave way in a landslide about 200 metres from its entrance.
New Vertical Drilling Approach Offers Hope
Despite the treacherous terrain, an access road has been built atop the hill to speed up vertical drilling. Devendra Patwal, disaster management chief, said: “We are optimistic this new method will get us to the tunnel in just a few days.” Over 200 rescue workers are on site, armed with excavators and heavy drilling gear.
The previous plan to tunnel horizontally was abandoned after machines broke down and debris piled up. Now, the rescuers face the challenge of drilling 103 metres straight down—almost double the original distance—but officials vow to continue horizontal efforts alongside the new vertical operation.
Uttarakhand’s Urgent Rescue Mission Continues
Uttarakhand, known for its holy temples, has ramped up construction to welcome thousands of pilgrims and tourists. The disaster has sparked a massive rescue effort, underscoring the dangers faced by workers in this mountainous region.
