Manual drilling has commenced at the Uttarakhand tunnel, where 41 workers have been trapped for over two weeks, according to authorities. The process began in the evening after the American Augur Drill malfunctioned once again, with its blades obstructed by iron grills and debris from the tunnel ceiling.
The task is being carried out by “rat miners,” who are laborers experienced in drilling narrow shafts as part of a primitive coal extraction method.
Officials have reported that vertical drilling to create an additional passageway has already progressed to a depth of 36 meters.
Rescue workers are now focusing on two methods: manual drilling from the top and side, as previous attempts have proven unsuccessful. Horizontal drilling from the Barkot end of the tunnel is also currently underway.
