41 men trapped in collapsed road tunnel – for 8 days

For eight days, 41 workers have been stuck in a collapsed road tunnel in India.

And the mood is getting more and more desperate.

The attempts to drill into the race masses have failed – now the rescue team is considering a new strategy.

The road tunnel in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India collapsed in a landslide last Sunday morning.

The 41 construction workers were 200 meters into the tunnel – and have been stuck there ever since.

Hundreds of relatives have gathered outside the race, where they can communicate with their tired and weakened family members by radio.

– They are in tears … they have started asking us if we are lying about the rescue attempts, says an anonymous relative to the AFP news agency.

All have escaped unharmed, but according to a doctor, some of the men have suffered from vomiting and dizziness.

Must drill 60 meters in

Around 200 people have participated in the major rescue effort, which has been anything but simple.

Drills have broken and a new drilling machine has had to be flown in.

The plan is to drill a hole and then insert pipes to be welded together. The 41 men are supposed to be able to get out through the pipes.

A 60 meter long hole is required to get the workers out – but so far they have only succeeded in drilling 24 meters in.

– It may look simple from the outside, but we also have to take into account the effect that the drilling vibrations have on the fragile terrain, says Anshu Manish Khalkho, head of the state-owned construction company NHIDCL.

Get chickpeas and anti-depressants

During Sunday, they considered a new strategy instead: Instead of drilling in from the side, they want to try to get in from above.

But drilling a 90-centimeter-wide tunnel from above is also risky – and more time-consuming. It will take another four or five days before they can get the workers out, rescue agency spokesperson Deepa Gaur told AP.

Via a narrow pipe, they managed to bring in roasted chickpeas, popcorn and nuts to the trapped workers.

The men are also in constant contact with healthcare personnel.

Due to the lack of sunlight, vitamin C and antidepressants have also been sent in through the tube, a person working with the rescue operation told Reuters.