Rescuers in India are optimistic about completing the drilling process on Thursday to free 41 men who have been trapped in a Himalayan highway tunnel. The ordeal began 12 days ago when the tunnel in Uttarakhand state collapsed on November 12. Despite the challenges, officials assure that the trapped individuals have access to essential provisions like light, oxygen, food, water, and medicines.
🇮🇳 Les opérations de secours se poursuivent en #Inde pour tenter de faire sortir les 41 ouvriers bloqués dans un tunnel effondré de l’#Himalaya depuis le 12 octobre près de la ville de #Dehradun ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FuVsZqTMWf
— FRANCE 24 Français (@France24_fr) November 23, 2023
Atul Karwal, the head of the National Disaster Response Force, expressed hope that the operation would be successful by the end of the day, provided there are no unexpected obstacles. An auger drilling machine has resumed work, and efforts to install additional evacuation pipes are underway, indicating positive progress.
However, the rescue team faced a setback when they encountered a lattice steel girder arch, which took six hours to remove. Once the drilling is complete, rescuers plan to use evacuation pipes to bring the trapped men out of the tunnel, utilizing stretchers on wheels. Ambulances are on standby to transport them to a hospital located approximately 30 km away on a cleared route.
Miraculous Rescue Unfolds: Trapped in uttrakhand Tunnel – A Story of Hope
The cause of the tunnel collapse has not been disclosed, but the region is known for its susceptibility to landslides, earthquakes, and floods. The challenging mountainous terrain has slowed down the rescue efforts.
In a video communication link, Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state’s chief minister, conveyed encouragement to one of the trapped individuals, Gabbar Singh Negi, expressing closeness to a successful rescue. He assured Saba Ahmed, another trapped individual, that only 10 meters remained to be covered, indicating that the wait might not be prolonged.
The collapsed tunnel is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage route, a significant project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government aimed at connecting four key Hindu pilgrimage sites through a 550-mile two-lane road, costing $1.5 billion. Following this incident, the National Highways Authority of India has announced a safety audit of the 29 tunnels it is currently constructing.
The local people doli for praying
#WATCH | Locals bring the ‘doli’ of the local deity to the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, where an operation is underway to rescue 41 trapped workers#TunnelCollapse#UttarkashiRescue#UttarakhandTunnel#Uttarkashi#UttrakhandTunnelcollapse pic.twitter.com/I496rC9gPR
— ▄︻デज̷ी̷त̷े̷श̷ ̷प̷ं̷ड̷ि̷त̷══━一 (@PANDIT_RJ_34) November 23, 2023
Behind the tunnel rescue operation
“Renowned Expert Arnold Dix Honored for Outstanding Contributions to Global Tunnel Safety and Fire-Related Expertise”#ArnoldDix #UttarakhandTunnel #UttarakhandTunnelCollapse #UttarakhandTunnelRescue pic.twitter.com/1vrMh6Tdhm
— Roofinstar (@memesmedia85) November 23, 2023