Indian Rescuers Hand-Dig to Liberate 41 Trapped Tunnel Workers After Weeks: Analysis

Rescuers in India are facing challenges in their efforts to save 41 trapped workers in a collapsed road tunnel. The military engineers are planning to use a manual drilling technique known as “rat-hole mining” to clear the rocks and rubble blocking the remaining 9 meters (29 feet) of the tunnel. The workers, who are from India’s poorest states, have been stuck in the 4.5km (3 miles) tunnel in Uttarakhand state since November 12. These workers have been receiving essential supplies such as food, water, light, oxygen, and medicine through a pipe. However, attempts to dig a tunnel have been hindered by machine failures. As a result, the rescue operation will now rely on a team of six “skilled workers” who will drill by hand from inside the narrow evacuation pipe. Rat mining, a hazardous method used in India to remove coal deposits through narrow passages, is being employed in this operation. The miners will drill, collect debris, and push it out of the tunnel. Meanwhile, other options, including drilling a shaft straight down from the top of the mountain, are also being pursued. However, bad weather conditions, including thunderstorms and lower temperatures, could further complicate the rescue operation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principal secretary, PK Mishra, visited the site and assured the trapped workers that efforts are being made to bring them out as soon as possible. The collapsed tunnel is part of the Char Dham Highway project, which is aimed at connecting various Hindu pilgrimage sites in the region. The cause of the collapse is still unknown, but the area is prone to landslides, earthquakes, and floods.

Source: Aljazeera news: India rescuers dig by hand to free 41 tunnel workers trapped for weeks