Indian tunnel rescue faces major delays after drilling machine breaks down

Rescue efforts have hit another setback nearly two weeks after 41 workers were trapped in a tunnel(Picture: EPA)

Efforts to reach trapped construction workers in a collapsed tunnel in India have been hampered by broken machinery.

A total of 41 workers have been stuck for two weeks after a landslide caused part of the 2.8mile tunnel they were digging to fill in.

The blockage of debris is around 650ft from the entrance to the tunnel and several efforts to drill through the debris have so far been unsuccessful.

Officials say a drill has now broken stalling the latest effort to free the men.

Efforts are now being made to remove the rubble by hand at the site in the northern region of Uttarakhand.

Arnold Dix, an international expert assisting the rescue team with the accident, said it is unclear when the drilling will be able to start again.

A vertical shaft boring machine arrives near the site of the tunnel collapse on the Brahmakal Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi, India, November 25 (Picture: EPA)

‘The machine is busted. It is irreparable,’ he told reporters.

The workers became stranded on November 12 following the landslip.

And the difficult terrain in the surrounding area has made drilling attempts especially difficult according to rescuers.

There was thought to be about 6.5ft of remaining debris stopping an exit when the drill broke.

Rescue workers near the site of a tunnel collapse on the Brahmakal Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi, India (Picture: EPA)

Pipes have been inserted into the already dug-out channel which should enable the workers to escape once the last of the stone and metal is removed.

Devendra Patwal, a disaster management officer., said about 151 feet of pipe has been put in so far.

A new drilling machine was used to dig vertically on Saturday.

This is the alternative plan should the horizontal drilling not turn out to be feasible.

A rescue personnel stands near an entrance of the Silkyara under-construction road tunnel (Picture: AFP)

However, it requires more than 300ft of drilling in order to reach the workers – nearly double the distance of the horizontal shaft.

Food and oxygen is being supplied to the men through a series of narrow pipes.

Doctors and psychiatrists are on site to help the workers – many of whom are believed to be migrant labourers from across the country.

The tunnel was being built as part of the Chardham road which connects various Hindu pilgrimage sites in the region which are popular with pilgrims and tourists.

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