First video of 41 workers trapped high in the mountains
6:51 AM EST, November 21, 2023
Indian workers, stranded and isolated from outside contact for nine days in Uttarakhand state, are reported to be well. Trapped in a collapsed tunnel, they enjoyed their first warm meal since the incident. A delivery was made possible by inserting a wide pipe in the landslide. A mounted endoscopic camera inside the pipe captured the first visuals from the site where the 41 men were confined.
The under-construction tunnel, drilled into the Himalayan mountain range and scheduled to be intersected by a highway under construction by Indian road engineers, collapsed on November 12th. The rescue teams have contacted the trapped workers since the disaster occurred.
Initially, supplies of small amounts of water and food were passed to them through a narrow pipe. On Monday evening, a larger pipe, measuring more than 5.9 inches in diameter, was carefully maneuvered through the debris to connect with the collapsed tunnel, facilitating the delivery of containers with warm meals.
The authorities of the Uttarkashi district in the state's north, coordinating the rescue operation, decided to put a tiny camera on a flexible cable through the pipe. This provided the first live visuals of the trapped workers.
First video reveals 41 workers trapped inside collapsed tunnel
The rescue effort, initiated immediately after the disaster, has faced multiple challenges. Drilling a path for first a narrow, then a larger pipe through the persistent landslide tested the expertise of the rescuers. They are now facing a critical task; to position an evacuation pipe, one meter (39 inches) wide, amidst the compact rubble, thus providing a means of escape for the trapped workers.
India's federal Minister of Highways and Roads, Nitin Gadkari, visited the scene on Sunday. He stated that the rescue operation could take "two to three days".
The released video shows the trapped workers waving to the rescuers. They appear in good condition, hopeful of their imminent liberation. They are maintaining contact with the outside world through the use of walkie-talkies.
