Miracle Rescue: 41 Workers Freed from Collapsed Indian Tunnel

Rescuers are struggling to reach out to 41 construction workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in northern India because debris has damaged their powered equipment, so they are going to start drilling by hand. Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, assured the 41 men are going to be rescued. After a landslide on Nov. 12, they have been trapped in the three-mile-long Silkyara tunnel in the Indian Himalayas. All of them are safe inside and are being supplied with oxygen, food, water, medicine and light. Handling the mental health of the workers has been the priority. The high-powered augur, or drill bit, got stuck on pieces of metal mixed in with the debris. The workers were trapped for days as rescuers working on an alternate plan of digging toward them vertically. Officials emphasized the importance of proceeding cautiously. “They are in good spirits,” said Dhami, who has spoken to the men. “They said, ‘Take as many days as you require, don’t worry about us.'” The tunnel is being built as part of a $1.5 billion project to build a two-lane road along the Char Dham pilgrimage route.