Final Phases of Rescue Operation for 41 Workers in Indian Tunnel Collapse

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Efforts to rescue 41 workers trapped in a collapsed highway tunnel in India’s northern region are nearing completion, with expectations of success by Thursday. The operation has been ongoing for almost two weeks.

After a pause caused by damaged blades on the drill due to metal debris, the excavation of the final segment recommenced. Atul Karwal, head of the National Disaster Response Force, expressed optimism about the machine’s renewed operation and anticipated a successful rescue within the day.

Previously, it was reported that the workers, trapped for ten days, were provided with hot meals as the rescue strategy evolved. With no access through a horizontal path, a vertical approach was adopted to reach the trapped individuals.

Bhaskar Khulbe, an official involved in the rescue, mentioned that clearing metal pipes that hindered drilling took six hours. Uttarakhand’s chief official, Pushkar Singh Dhami, communicated with the workers via walkie-talkies during his visit on Thursday.

Harpal Singh, a manager aiding the rescue, indicated that as of Wednesday night, 44 meters of the required 57 meters had been drilled. The completion of the remaining 13 meters will allow for the installation of pipes to extract the workers.

The operation, which had to shift to horizontal drilling due to technical issues, faced challenges from the mountainous terrain and vibrations causing further debris collapse.

The workers have been confined since a landslide on November 12 caused a section of the 4.5-kilometer tunnel to collapse. Recent efforts saw the deployment of ambulances and medical teams, and relatives of the trapped workers have expressed renewed hope.

Devashish, whose brother-in-law is among the trapped, shared a recent conversation indicating growing optimism for a reunion.

In an effort to sustain the workers, hot meals and oxygen have been supplied through pipes. A video released by officials showed the workers in hard hats inside the tunnel, maintaining communication with rescuers.

The tunnel is part of the Chardham road project, intended to connect various Hindu pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, a region known for its temples and construction activities to support tourism and pilgrimage.

This report corrects the earlier misidentification of the National Disaster Response Force.

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More about India Tunnel Rescue

• Northern India tunnel collapse
• Rescue operation for trapped workers
• Challenges in tunnel rescue efforts
• Sustenance for trapped workers
• Chardham all-weather road project