-
-
-
Loading
Loading
A drill machine specifically designed for rescue operations has been brought in to save 40 Indian workers who have been trapped inside a tunnel for over four days. The machine was transported from Delhi on Wednesday after previous attempts to drill through the debris using another machine were unsuccessful. The specialist drill will create a passage through which a pipe will be inserted, allowing the workers to crawl out. The workers became trapped on Sunday when a portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand collapsed due to a landslide. The debris has cut off their oxygen supply, but they are currently safe. Rescuers have been providing food, water, and oxygen through pipes and communicating with them via walkie-talkies. Although there have been reports of headaches, anxiety, and nausea among the workers, officials deny that they are injured. Another pipe is being inserted to aid communication, provide additional supplies, and further assist in the rescue efforts. The drill machine is a heavy-duty horizontal device with the capacity to dig through five meters of debris per hour. The plan is to create a wide enough hole for a 900mm diameter pipe, allowing the workers to crawl to safety. However, previous attempts to clear the debris have been hindered by falling rocks and soil. Excavators have also been used without success. Authorities are unable to speculate on the timeline for clearing the debris but are hopeful for positive progress soon. Friends and family of the workers are growing increasingly anxious for their safety. Some have been waiting outside the tunnel, desperate to see their loved ones emerge. Communication with the trapped workers has brought some comfort to family members, with one father reporting relief upon hearing his son's voice. The Silkyara tunnel is part of a government project to enhance connectivity to significant pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, a state known for its sacred Hindu landmarks.