Tunnel drama in India: no rescue in sight
In the drama surrounding the 41 workers who have been trapped in a tunnel in India for two weeks, the rescue work is dragging on. After several repairs, a large drilling machine has finally broken down. The helpers are now relying on smaller tools, among other things. According to officials, this is prolonging the rescue work.
Arnold Dix, an Australian expert involved in the work, told the Indian television station NDTV on Sunday that he expected the rescue to be completed by Christmas.
So far, the helpers have tried to use the large machine to push a pipe into the rubble through which the trapped people were supposed to come out. The machine made several dozen meters of progress, repeatedly hitting obstacles such as steel parts and broken machinery. In the meantime, however, it could no longer be repaired, said Dix.
Vertical drilling
During the drilling work now planned, helpers will have to go into the pipe, which has so far been pushed into the mountain, one by one and work their way forward with the appropriate tools. They will also attempt to drill vertically into the mountain in order to reach those trapped.
The 4.5-kilometer-long freeway tunnel partially collapsed on 12 November after a landslide during construction work. The trapped people are being supplied with food, water, oxygen and medication via narrow pipes. They should also receive a telephone connection to stay in contact with their waiting relatives, it was said.
The men are doing well, said Pushkar Singh Dhami, head of the government of the affected Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. According to reports, it is completely unclear when they will be rescued. However, experts are confident that a rescue will be successful.
The accident site is located near the small town of Uttarkashi. The region is known for its many Hindu temples and is a popular pilgrimage and tourist destination. The tunnel was intended to improve transport links there.
Despite the ongoing efforts to rescue the trapped workers, frequent traffic accidents and emergencies in the area are causing delays. The construction site is also not immune to these incidents, with recent equipment failures adding to the challenges.
In light of the prolonged rescue operation and potential need for vertical drilling, extra safety measures are being implemented for the rescue team and construction personnel. This includes increased traffic control and emergency response plans to minimize any additional risks.
Source: www.dpa.com
