Rescuers who have been trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in northern India for more than a week are now changing tactics after three failed attempts to drill through the rubble.
On November 12, a portion of the tunnel collapsed following a landslide in Uttarakhand. Rescuers have been able to send radios, food, water and oxygen to workers through the pipes, the New York Times reported.
Rescuers have now tried three times to drill through the rubble and reach workers from different angles, but all have failed, the BBC reported on Sunday. Officials told reporters that the land around the tunnel is fragile and drilling could risk more debris falling.
“We have decided to adopt an on-again, off-again approach to maintain balance,” Anshu Manish Khalkho, director of the state-run highway management company, said on Friday, CNN reported. “It may look easy from the outside, but on site we have to consider the impact of drilling vibrations on the fragile terrain.”
Officials have now identified a spot directly above the tunnel where rescuers will try to drill through, with workers preparing a platform for a drill. Officials told reporters that the rescue could take another four to five days, according to the BBC.
A doctor at the scene, who has been talking to the trapped workers, said some of them were suffering from symptoms including headaches and vomiting.
“They were suffering from anxiety and gastritis. We sent medicines, dry fruits, chickpeas and popcorn,” Dr. BS Pokriyal told CNN. “They kept asking us to get them out as soon as possible, so I spent some time coaching and motivating them.”
Pokriyal added that the men had about 0.6 miles of room to move around inside the tunnel.
The landslides came as the trapped workers were building part of a national highway project aimed at facilitating pilgrimages to Uttarakhand’s main Hindu shrine.
loading…
Publishers Mindscape Developers P.F. Magic Release date 1998 Genre Simulation Game rating Description of the…
Editors Activision, Inc. Developers superego games Release date 2006 Gender Adventure Game Rating Game Description…
Editors Terraglyph Interactive Studios, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Developers Terraglifo interactive studios Release date nineteen…
Editors Sega, Digital Images, Screaming Villains, Limited Run Games Developers Digital Images, Inc. Release date…
Editors Davilex Games BV Developers Davilex Games BV Release date 1998 Gender Careers Game Rating…
Editors Sony Computer Entertainment, Disney Interactive Studios Developers High voltage software Release date 2002 Gender…