Indian rescuers have cautioned that it may take an additional two days to clear the rubble before reaching 40 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel for nearly a week. Excavators have been working since Sunday morning to create an escape route after a portion of the tunnel in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand collapsed. Debris continuing to fall has slowed the rescue efforts. A second drilling machine was flown in on a military plane, and engineers are attempting to drive a steel pipe through the debris. The rescue leader estimated it could take another 40-48 hours to complete the rescue.
Key Points:
Trapped Workers:
- 40 workers have been trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand for nearly a week.
Rescue Efforts:
- Excavators have been clearing debris since Sunday to create an escape route for the trapped workers.
- Debris continuing to fall has slowed down the rescue operations.
Drilling Machine:
- After issues with an earth-boring drill, a second drilling machine was flown in on a military plane.
- The air force used a C-130 Hercules military plane to transport the drilling machine, with a giant drill bit stretching the length of the cargo hold.
Steel Pipe Insertion:
- Engineers are trying to drive a steel pipe, approximately 90 centimeters wide, through the debris.
- The goal is to create a passage wide enough for the trapped workers to pass through.
Thai Cave Rescue Expertise:
- India sought advice from the Thai company that successfully rescued children from a flooded cave in 2018.
- Engineering experts from the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute are also providing guidance.
Communication and Supplies:
- Rescuers are communicating with the trapped workers using radios.
- Supplies, including food, water, oxygen, and medicine, are being sent to the workers through a six-inch-wide pipe.
Condition of Trapped Workers:
- No official details about the condition of the trapped workers have been released.
- Local media reports suggest that some workers are experiencing vomiting, headaches, anxiety, and stomach problems.
Field Hospital:
- A six-bed field hospital has been set up outside the site, with ambulances on standby to transfer serious cases to a proper hospital.
Tunnel Construction:
- The 4.5-kilometer tunnel was under construction between the towns of Silkyara and Dandalgaon to connect Uttarkashi and Yamunotri, two significant Hindu shrines.
The ongoing rescue operation involves multiple challenges, including ongoing debris fall, technical complications, and concerns about the well-being of the trapped workers. The involvement of international experts and constant communication with the workers reflects the complexity of the situation.
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