First Glimpse of 41 Workers Trapped in Collapsed Road Tunnel in Indian Himalayas
The 41 workers who have been trapped for 10 days inside a collapsed highway tunnel in the Indian Himalayas have been seen for the first time, standing in a confined space and communicating with rescue workers through a medical endoscopy camera.
Authorities provided a 30-second video on Tuesday that showed about a dozen of the trapped men standing in a semi-circle in front of the camera, wearing helmets and construction worker jackets against the backdrop of the tunnel lights.
Rescue workers outside could be heard reassuring the men and urging them to present themselves one by one to confirm their identities as the rescue efforts continue.
The video was captured through a medical endoscopy camera that was pushed through a second, wider pipeline drilled through the debris on Monday by the authorities.
Prior to the introduction of the camera, rescuers had been using radios to communicate with the trapped workers.
‘Take care of yourselves’
The 41 men have been stuck in the 4.5km (3-mile) tunnel in Uttarakhand state since its collapse on November 12. They have access to light, oxygen, food, water, and medicines, and are unharmed, authorities said. The cause of the collapse remains unknown, but the region is prone to natural disasters such as landslides, earthquakes, and floods. The challenging mountainous terrain has slowed down the rescue efforts.
Rescuers are set to resume horizontal drilling through a 60-meter (195-ft) pile of debris on Tuesday to push through a pipe large enough for the trapped men to crawl out, after a brief suspension due to machinery issues and concerns of further collapse. Authorities are also working on alternative plans, including vertical drilling from the top of the mountain.
Psychiatrist Abhishek Sharma, who has been sent to the site, advised the trapped men to walk within their confined area, perform light yoga exercises, and engage in regular conversations with each other to stay occupied. He emphasized the importance of sleep and mental well-being for the trapped workers.
The 41 men are low-wage workers from poor states in India’s north and east. Family members of the trapped workers are eagerly waiting for their safe return, with experts and foreign consultants providing support in the rescue operations.
“Those 41 men are coming home,” said Australian independent disaster investigator Arnold Dix, who is part of the international team assisting in the rescue efforts. “Exactly when? Not sure.” he added to the Press Trust of India news agency.
