The latest developments touched a string of dramatic chapters in the Indian tunnel saga, as the climax was still taking shape. Rescue teams activated a Plan B that could have delayed the 41 workers’ exit from the mountain interior by a month, even though they had already spent two weeks underground. Research on the operation continues best with vertical drilling, which is favored for its speed and safety, even though there is a risk of a later setback in the chain of progress.
In the 57-meter-long barrier of rock, cement, and metal that separates the workers from the tunnel mouth, durability has surprised experts. It has already withstood the stress long enough to retire three drilling rigs. The arrival of the last rig—an imposing piece of American technology delivered by military planes from New Delhi—set the rescue narrative in motion. It made modest progress in the final dozen meters on Thursday, and officials suggested the feat could come within a few hours. A damaged platform momentarily blocked progress. On the following day, a repaired metal obstacle briefly broke its grip again. Arnold Dix, the mission’s field expert and supervisor, observed that the barrier can still fail to yield to the machine. The mountain appeared to push back against the equipment. The crew has since moved to manual extraction, a tougher and slower method, with no clear timetable for placing the 90-centimeter pipe that would allow the workers to slide out.
So on Sunday rescuers opened up one of the alternative routes. The plan calls for drilling into the mountain from the forested hill beneath the tunnel, a path that had initially been underestimated as vertical drilling dominated the strategy. The horizontal approach encountered setbacks that forced a rethink. Roughly one hundred meters of drilling must be completed, with a second pass to ensure the path is clear. Once a suitable shaft is ready, workers will be lifted out in buckets. The method carries serious risk, not only for those inside but for the surrounding area as well. Vibrations can destabilize the ground and threaten nearby homes.
various holes
More than thirty meters of drilling have been completed in a few days. If things go as planned, forecasts point to progress by Thursday. Yet conditions in the mountain demand careful, precise work. Officials acknowledge the timeline may stretch into weeks, with Dix urging caution. “It might take time, perhaps even a month,” he noted. “Pushing speed at the expense of safety is not advisable. The priority is to bring these men out safely, and I believe they will be home for Christmas.”
The 41 workers, migrants long committed to their labor, are trapped in a two-kilometer-long, nine-story-high section of rural terrain. They maintain contact with rescue crews and their families via radio, and they receive oxygen, food rations, water, and medicines through a small pipeline. Reuters reports that they were also sent two mobile phones and memory cards loaded with Indian cinema and games. Medical staff have recommended gentle movement, breathing exercises, mindfulness, and conversations with colleagues to manage anxiety. So far, no major health issues have surfaced beyond dizziness and vomiting. More than a dozen doctors, including psychologists, monitor health from the tunnel mouth. Deep inside the mountain, the workers stay warm against Himalayan cold. Upcoming storms and snowfall could complicate the rescue, but authorities say they are prepared to adapt.
The five-kilometer tunnel is tied to the controversial Char Dham project, a plan to improve access to renowned temples and strategic border zones with China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended the project against criticism that the soil is at risk. A committee of experts reviewing the disaster reported that the tunnel lacked an emergency exit and sits atop a geological fault.