DEHRADUN: The efforts to rescue workers trapped in the Silkyara highway tunnel in Uttarakhand are getting delayed after the drilling machine broke down on Friday. Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Office informed that 41 workers were trapped inside the tunnel. Earlier, it was believed that 40 people were trapped inside the tunnel. A new machine was flown from Indore to Dharasu in an air force flight to replace the broken American drilling machine. From there, it has been brought on a truck to the tunnel. The new machine needs to be installed after removing the damaged one. This will take time. This means that the rescue efforts will also get delayed.

27 tons of rescue equipment have also been delivered. The trapped workers are being given food, water, medicine and oxygen through pipes. The health of the workers is satisfactory. Authorities are communicating with the workers through pipes. Expressing concerns over the health of their dear ones, family members of trapped workers protested in front of the tunnel yesterday.

Doctors opined that the mental and physical health of the workers would deteriorate with the rescue operation getting delayed. An eight-bed hospital has been set up to provide emergency medical care to the workers as soon as they are brought out. Helicopters are also on standby at nearby airports to transport them for specialist treatment.