Rescuers in northern India have successfully extracted all of the 41 workers who were trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand since November 12.
The workers, involved in the construction of the tunnel, were trapped when a section collapsed, obstructing their only exit with over 60 meters of debris.
The rescue efforts encountered difficulties, including breakdowns of heavy machinery used for drilling through the debris, leading to manual excavation and alternative risky methods.
Despite setbacks, engineers successfully drilled downward through the mountain terrain as a backup plan. Subsequently, rescuers inserted a large pipe through the exit shaft to bring the workers to safety.
The labourers, all migrants from some of India’s economically disadvantaged states, received sustenance through a 53-meter pipe and remained in good health.
