Indian rescuers cautioned on Friday that it might take an additional two days to clear rubble before reaching 40 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel for nearly a week in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.
Since Sunday morning, excavators have been tirelessly removing debris to create an escape route for the workers. However, the rescue has been hindered by falling debris as workers labor to clear the tunnel.
In response to issues with an earth-boring drill, the Air Force deployed a second drilling machine on a C-130 Hercules military plane on Wednesday. The enormous drill bit, spanning much of the aircraft’s cargo hold, aims to drive a steel pipe about 90 centimeters wide through the debris—wide enough for the trapped individuals to pass through.
As of Thursday night, only 18 meters of pipe had been inserted into the debris, and rescue leader Deepak Patil estimates that it may take another 40-48 hours to complete the rescue.
Drawing on international expertise, India has sought advice from the Thai company that successfully rescued children from a flooded cave in 2018 and consulted engineering experts from the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute.
Communication with the trapped workers is maintained through radios, and essential supplies, including food, water, oxygen, and medicine, are being delivered via a six-inch-wide pipe. While official details on the workers’ condition are unavailable, local media reports suggest symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, anxiety, and stomach problems.
A six-bed field hospital, along with ambulances on standby, has been established outside the site, ready to transfer serious cases to a proper hospital. The 4.5-kilometer tunnel, connecting Uttarkashi and Yamunotri, two of the holiest Hindu shrines, is crucial for the region.
