Rescuers dig manually to free 41 trapped workers in India tunnel
OAN’s James Meyers
9:25 AM – Monday, November 27, 2023
Authorities in India have announced they will begin manual digging in hopes to rescue 41 construction workers who have been trapped in a tunnel for over two weeks.
According to officials, rescuers have begun to start drilling vertically on Monday, which is an alternate plan to digging horizontally from the front using a newly replaced drilling machine to hollow out almost 105 feet.
Devendra Patwal, a disaster management official at the site, said he is hopeful and ready to face different challenges.
“We don’t know what the drilling machine will have to cut through. It could be loose soil or rocks. But we are prepared,” he said.
Meanwhile, since the workers have been trapped, rescuers have excavated and inserted pipes up to 150 feet inside the tunnel, which was welded together in hopes to make a passageway for the workers to be pulled out on wheeled stretchers.
The drilling machine used to make a passageway broke down on Friday as rescuers worked overnight pulling out parts of the drilling machine stuck inside the pipes to begin manual digging, according to Patwal.
The rescue attempt comes after workers have been trapped since November 12th after a landslide in Uttarakhand state caused a portion of the almost three mile tunnel they were building collapsed 650 feet from the entrance.
A majority of the trapped workers are migrant laborers from across India. Family members of the trapped workers have traveled to the area and have camped out for days in hopes to get updates to the rescue efforts.
Arnold Dix, an international expert assisting the rescuing team, told the local media that he expects the workers to be reunited with their families by Christmas time.
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How is the rescue operation planning to reach the trapped workers?
Ndia who had come to the area in search of employment. The construction of the tunnel is part of a larger infrastructure project in the region.
Since the collapse, rescue operations have been ongoing and multiple setbacks have occurred, including the failure of drilling machines and the challenge of unstable soil and rocks. The rescue teams have been working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of the trapped workers.
The decision to begin manual digging is a significant step forward in the rescue operation. By drilling vertically and hollowing out almost 105 feet, the rescuers hope to create a passage through which they can reach the trapped workers. This method is being implemented as an alternate plan to horizontal digging from the front.
Devendra Patwal, the disaster management official at the site, expresses hope and readiness to face the challenges that lie ahead. However, he acknowledges the uncertainty of what the drilling machine will have to cut through, as it could be loose soil or rocks. Despite this uncertainty, the rescue teams are fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise.
In their attempts to rescue the workers, the rescue teams have excavated and inserted pipes up to 150 feet inside the tunnel. These pipes were welded together to create a potential passageway for the workers to be safely transported out of the tunnel on wheeled stretchers. However, the drilling machine used for this purpose broke down on Friday, further complicating the rescue operation.
The collapse of the tunnel and the subsequent trapping of the workers occurred on November 12th, following a landslide in Uttarakhand state. The tunnel, which was almost three miles long, suffered a collapse approximately 650 feet from the entrance. The majority of the workers trapped are migrant laborers from different parts of India who had come to Uttarakhand in search of better job opportunities.
The rescue mission is a race against time, as the trapped workers have already been inside the tunnel for over two weeks. Every effort is being made to ensure their safety and successful rescue. The determination and dedication of the rescue teams, along with the support and cooperation of the authorities, give hope for a positive outcome in this challenging situation.
As the rescue operation continues, it serves as a reminder of the risks faced by construction workers and the importance of prioritizing their safety and well-being. It also highlights the need for robust disaster management and rescue protocols to be in place to respond effectively in such emergencies.
The thoughts and prayers of people across India and around the world are with the trapped workers and their families during this difficult time. May the rescue efforts be successful and may the workers be safely reunited with their loved ones.
Sources:
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