Rescue Efforts Continue for 40 Workers Trapped in Collapsed Indian Tunnel

New Drilling Machine Deployed as Workers Show Signs of Illness

Rescue efforts to save 40 workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand, India, have been ongoing since Sunday, with officials estimating it could take another 40-48 hours to reach the workers.
A new, more powerful drilling machine has been brought in to speed up the rescue process. The machine is expected to drill through the debris and create a space for a pipe that the men can use to crawl out of the tunnel.
The trapped workers are being supplied with oxygen, food, and water through a pipeline. Some of the workers have reportedly started to become ill, exhibiting symptoms including dizziness, fever, and vomiting.
The tunnel is part of the federal government's $1.5 billion highway project to improve connectivity to famous pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand. The construction of the tunnel has been criticized due to the fragile ecology of the region.
Most of the trapped workers are migrant laborers from states in northern and eastern India. The Jharkhand government has sent a three-member team to aid rescue workers.