Indian authorities have announced that they are on the brink of rescuing 41 workers who have been trapped under the debris of a collapsed tunnel for 16 days. Despite numerous setbacks, rescue workers have made significant progress, digging more than 55 metres through the rubble and coming within a few metres of reaching the stranded individuals.
The incident occurred in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand on November 12. The workers, who were low-wage construction employees, were caught in the collapse of the under-construction Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel. The tunnel was part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Char Dham pilgrimage project and was intended to link four significant Hindu pilgrimage sites.
Rescue efforts proved to be challenging due to the region’s susceptibility to landslides, earthquakes, and floods. However, following the excavation of debris, supplies such as food, water, oxygen, and medication were successfully delivered to the trapped workers via a pipeline. A new, wider pipeline was later established to provide cooked food and other essentials. A medical facility was set up near the tunnel, with nearby hospitals placed on standby to provide additional support if needed.
The National Disaster Response Force has been leading the rescue efforts, with a team of 15 men navigating the challenging conditions. An endoscopic camera was deployed to check on the trapped workers, and video footage of the men was released last week.
In response to the incident, the National Highways Authority of India announced plans to conduct a safety audit of 29 tunnels it has been constructing, with a focus on sites in the Himalayan region. The goal is to prevent similar accidents in the future by conducting thorough site investigations before initiating construction in mountainous areas.