The operation to rescue 41 workers who were trapped eleven days ago in a tunnel under construction in northern India seems to be beginning to be seen with greater optimism after the authorities reported that they had managed to drill more than half of the tunnel. layer of debris that separates them from the outside.
“I can say that everything is going well. We have reached 39 (metres) and we hope everything is fine,” special duty officer for the tunnel project, Bhaskar Khulbe, told the media. Authorities estimate the thickness of the layer of debris that trapped workers at the dawn of October 12 in the Silkyara tunnel under construction, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, at about 60 meters after one of its sections collapsed.
The rescuers remain in contact with the workers from the day of the collapse using a walkie-talkie, and provide them with food and oxygen thanks to a narrow pipe that was already present before the accident.
Furthermore, yesterday contact was established via image for the first time in 10 days since the catastrophe occurred. In it, you can see the entire expedition and the state in which they are currently. “I spoke to them, everyone is in a very good mood, there is a positive work environment, we hope we can achieve this,” said a relieved Khulbe.
The objective is to open a cavity in the thick wall of rubble large enough to insert a long pipe almost a meter in diameter through which the workers can escape. To do this, the operators have used several tunnel boring machines, which have suffered a series of technical difficulties and breakdowns that are delaying the rescue. This delay led the authorities to design alternative plans, including the excavation of a vertical tunnel to the cavity in which the workers are located.
Fires, collapses and other similar accidents are frequent in India, often due to the poor state of infrastructure and lack of maintenance, factors fueled by corruption and illegal practices.
At least 1,630 people died in 2021 due to the collapse of structures, according to the latest annual report on accidental deaths and suicides in India.
