Newly Released Footage Shows Indian Workers Trapped in Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse

Footage taken by a camera has revealed the 41 workers who have been trapped in a tunnel in India's Uttarakhand state for the past nine days. The video was recorded using an endoscopic camera that was inserted into a new pipe drilled into the tunnel on Monday. Rescuers were able to provide the workers with their first hot meal in days through the same pipe. Previously, the workers had only been receiving snacks sent through a narrower pipe. The tunnel collapsed after a landslide occurred while it was under construction. The trapped men have been receiving oxygen, food, and water since the incident. It was a significant breakthrough for the rescue operation on Monday when a six-inch diameter pipe was pushed through the debris in the tunnel. An official attached a small camera to a flexible cable and used it to capture footage of the trapped workers. The video shows the workers responding to instructions, smiling, and waving at the camera. The official also asks the workers to identify themselves. The conversation appears to be taking place through walkie-talkies, as one of the men in the video is seen holding the device. The workers, protected by safety helmets and jackets, are seen standing in a semi-circle near the camera. The official informs them that the pipe will soon be cleaned and water will be sent to them. The new pipe is wider than the previous one and will enable the workers to receive more oxygen, food, and other supplies. The rescue operation has faced delays and challenges due to loose soil and falling debris. The plan is to create a hole large enough for a 900mm pipe that the workers can crawl out of. Additionally, officials are working on digging two more tunnels as alternative escape routes. The operation has already lasted for ten days, and it is estimated that the rescue operations could continue for another "two to three days," according to federal Highways and Roads Minister Nitin Gadkari.