By: Staff
Excavators have been removing earth, concrete and rubble from the under-construction tunnel in the northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand since last Sunday after a portion of the tunnel collapsed.
Rescue efforts have been slowed by continued falling debris as well as repeated breakdowns of the crucial heavy drilling machines, with the air force having to twice airlift in new kit.
Drilling through the tonnes of debris was paused late Friday, after a cracking sound created a "panic situation", officials said.
Operations were then halted due to the possibility of "further collapse", said the government's highways and infrastructure company, NHIDCL.
"Every possible effort is being made," Minister of Road Transport Nitin Gadkari said Sunday, after visiting the site.
He said if the drilling machine was fixed, they could reach the men by Tuesday, but said teams were also considering multiple alternative routes.
Relatives of those trapped, who spoke to the men via radio, said conditions were grim and morale low.
"They are in tears… they have started asking us whether we are lying about the rescue efforts being made to save them," one relative told reporters late Saturday, without giving their name.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231119-india-considering-new-shaft-to-free-trapped-tunnel-workers