India plans to use manual drilling to rescue 41 workers trapped in a tunnel.

A malfunctioning drilling rig has prompted Indian rescuers to consider manual drilling to reach 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand state.

Senior Indian officials said today that the drill used to bore through 60 meters of rock in a tunnel in Uttarakhand state broke down when it was pulled from a 47-meter section of the tunnel the previous day. This rendered the machine inoperable and delayed the rescue of 41 workers trapped underground.

"Rescue workers will proceed with manual drilling to overcome the final 10 meters of rock and soil after the entire drilling rig is cut and removed from the pipeline," the official said. Indian officials said the trapped workers are safe and have access to food, water, oxygen, medicine, and light.

The area near the collapsed tunnel entrance in Uttarakhand state, India, on November 24. Photo: Reuters

Sunita Hembrom, a relative of one of the trapped individuals, said that the workers in the tunnel "are very worried."

More than 10 doctors, including a psychologist, are on site to monitor the health of the 41 workers trapped in the tunnel. Those trapped have been advised to practice yoga, walk along the 2-kilometer tunnel, and talk to each other constantly.

Forty-one workers have been trapped since a road tunnel under construction in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand collapsed on November 12. The 4.5-kilometer tunnel was being built between the cities of Silkyara and Dandalgaon to connect India's two holiest Hindu temples, Uttarkashi and Yamnotri.

Indian officials have not yet stated the cause of the tunnel collapse, but the area is frequently affected by landslides, earthquakes, and floods.

Rescue efforts continue as Indian workers are trapped in a collapsed mine. Graphic: Reuters

Rescue forces are deploying five plans, implemented by five different agencies and approaching from three different directions. The rescue operation is constantly facing obstacles. Previously, rescuers dug small pipes into the tunnel to provide oxygen, water, and snacks to the workers.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

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