In a significant development, the first images of the 41 men trapped for over a week in a highway tunnel in the Indian Himalayas have emerged. The workers have been stranded in the 4.5-km tunnel in Uttarakhand state since it collapsed on November 12. Authorities assure that the trapped men are safe with access to light, oxygen, food, water, and medicines.
Efforts for their rescue have faced challenges due to complications in drilling through the debris in the mountainous terrain. A 30-second video provided by authorities displays around a dozen trapped men in helmets and construction worker jackets, communicating with rescue workers through walkie-talkie gear sent into the tunnel.
The video, shot via a medical endoscopy camera pushed through a second, wider pipeline drilled on Monday, indicates that the trapped men are in good spirits and have been responding well to queries about their well-being. The trapped workers are low-wage laborers, primarily from economically disadvantaged states in India’s north and east.
Rescue operations are set to resume drilling horizontally through a 60-meter pile of debris to facilitate a large enough pipe for the trapped men to crawl out. Despite a temporary suspension of drilling due to a machine snag and collapse concerns, authorities remain committed to multiple rescue plans.
Psychiatrist Abhishek Sharma, present at the site, emphasizes the importance of activities within the confined area to keep the trapped men occupied, highlighting the significance of sleep for their well-being. The men have been advised to avoid heavy workouts to prevent an accumulation of carbon dioxide gas in the confined space.
Rescue efforts continue with determination as families of the trapped workers anxiously await their safe return.
By Reuters
