The 41 development staff trapped in a collapsed tunnel in northern India for over per week are getting their first sizzling meals on Tuesday via a brand new six-inch vast metal pipe as rescuers pursue an alternate plan to free them.
New footage exhibits the menwho turned caught within the tunnel after a landslide in Uttarakhand state on Nov. 12clad in development gear, presenting themselves earlier than the digicam and waving. Authorities launched a 30-second video, filmed on an endoscopic digicam, that had been pushed via the particles.
We are going to convey you out safely, don’t worry, rescuers instructed the lads, in accordance with translations by Al Jazeera.
The meal consisted of rice and lentils, a dish generally known as khichdi. Earlier than Tuesday, the lads had been consuming dry meals and water through a narrower four-inch pipe, and oxygen offered via one other pipe. They’ve been speaking with rescuers utilizing walkie-talkie radios that may be seen within the video.
The broader pipe will make the stream of provides to the lads simpler, permitting for extra meals, water, medical provides, telephones, and batteries. I’ve seen them on digicam, however now I am ready to see them within the flesh, Rahul Ameen, a buddy of two males trapped contained in the tunnel, instructed the BBC.

The lads turned trapped after a portion of the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) tunnel, which was underneath development within the mountainous neighborhood of the Himalayas, caved in on itself after a landslide. The tunnel collapsed round 200 meters (656 ft.) from its entrance.
Development of the tunnel is a part of the Chardham all-weather highway, a flagship mission of the federal government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that goals to attach Hindu pilgrimage websites, in order that the state can higher accommodate the rising inflow of pilgrims and vacationers to the area.
The development plans are additionally a part of the federal government’s bid to enhance entry to the disputed India-China border space within the Himalayas, generally known as the Line of Precise Management.
Rescue efforts have been slowed down by free soil and particles delaying. Rescuers tried to make use of a drilling machine to dig horizontally towards the lads, however efforts had been paused on Friday, when the device worsened particles and broke down.
Authorities have outlined a handful of plans to rescue the employees. Officers stated Monday that rescuers are creating an entry highway to dig 103 meters (338 ft.) vertically from the highest of the mountain, which may take plenty of days and worsen particles falling within the tunnel. It’s hoped {that a} gap will be created that’s giant sufficient to permit as much as 5 pipes to be pushed via it, which is able to clear a crawl house for the employees to exit via.
Rescue staff are additionally persevering with to dig horizontally from the mouth of the tunnel towards the trapped development staff.