In a gripping rescue operation, Indian officials are on the brink of freeing 41 workers who have been trapped in a collapsed road tunnel in Uttarakhand for almost two weeks. The rescue teams, just meters away from the exhausted workers, express optimism despite recent setbacks.
Initial hopes were dashed when a drilling machine encountered metal rods, causing a delay. However, the obstruction has been cleared, and with stretchers equipped with wheels ready, rescuers plan to navigate the final 14 meters inside the tunnel. Bhaskar Khulbe, overseeing the operation, anticipates reaching the workers by the evening, emphasizing the workers’ positive mindset.
While the timeline is subject to potential technical glitches and the challenging Himalayan terrain, preparations are in place with ambulances on standby and a field hospital ready. The families of the trapped workers anxiously await, and rescue teams stop to pray at a Hindu shrine near the tunnel entrance.
National Disaster Response Force chief Atul Karwal outlines the plan for a swift and safe extraction once the steel pipe breaks through. Delays caused by falling debris, cave-in fears, and machine breakdowns have hampered the rescue. Engineers, including experts from the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, have faced challenges such as cutting through buried construction vehicles.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasizes the urgency, describing the efforts as being on “war footing.” Senior rescue official Syed Ata Hasnain compares the operation to a battle, citing Himalayan geology as a formidable challenge. Experts caution about the impact of extensive construction in Uttarakhand, prone to landslides, raising concerns about the region’s vulnerability.