Rescue Operations Halted in Indian Tunnel Collapse Due to Equipment Failure

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Efforts to save 41 construction workers trapped for two weeks in a northern Indian tunnel suffered another setback this Saturday. The rescue team, initially employing a drilling machine to navigate through the accumulated mixture of rock, metal, and stone, had to switch to manual debris removal after the machinery malfunctioned on Friday. However, the operation came to a standstill on Saturday.

Internationally renowned specialist Arnold Dix, who is part of the rescue mission in Uttarakhand, indicated the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of drilling activities. “The machine is completely broken and beyond repair,” he reported to the media. “Once again, the mountain has overcome our technical efforts.”

Since November 12, the workers have been trapped inside a section of the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) tunnel, which collapsed due to a landslide approximately 200 meters (650 feet) from its entrance. The rugged landscape has posed significant challenges, evident in the drilling machine’s two prior breakdowns during attempts to horizontally reach the entrapped individuals.

The machine ceased functioning after penetrating about 2 meters (6.5 feet) into the final 12-meter (40-foot) barrier of rocky debris. In preparation for the rescue, a makeshift tunnel has been constructed using welded pipes, stretching 46 meters (151 feet), as confirmed by disaster management official Devendra Patwal. The plan involves extracting the workers on wheeled stretchers through this conduit.

Simultaneously, a new vertical drilling machine was deployed at the site on Saturday, marking a shift in the rescue strategy. To reach the trapped workers through this vertical approach, a descent of 103 meters (338 feet) is required, considerably more than the horizontal path.

The workers have been receiving sustenance through a 6-inch (15-centimeter) pipe, comprising hot meals of rice and lentils, after initially surviving on dry provisions. Oxygen is supplied separately, and a medical team, including psychiatrists, is constantly monitoring their health.

Most of the trapped laborers are migrants from various parts of the country. Their families have gathered at the site, enduring days of anxious waiting for updates and the reunion with their loved ones.

The tunnel is part of the Chardham all-weather road project, aimed at connecting key Hindu pilgrimage sites. This federal government initiative has raised concerns among some experts about its potential impact on the already delicate conditions of the upper Himalayas, a region with many settlements atop landslide-prone debris.

Uttarakhand, known for its numerous Hindu temples, attracts large numbers of pilgrims and tourists. This influx has steadily increased over the years, paralleling the ongoing expansion of infrastructure such as buildings and roads in the area.

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More about India Tunnel Collapse Rescue

• Rescue Efforts for Indian Tunnel Collapse
• India Tunnel Collapse: Workers’ Plight
• Challenges in India’s Tunnel Rescue Operation
• Health and Safety of Trapped Workers in India
• Chardham Road Project and Himalayan Terrain Concerns