NEW DELHI (AP) — The rescue of 41 development staff trapped practically two weeks in a collapsed tunnel in northern India has reached the ultimate stretch of digging.

The drill that’s digging into the grime and particles had made it by 44 meters (144 ft) out of roughly the 57 wanted, Harpal Singh, a supervisor of one other tunnel mission who helps with the rescue, instructed the Press Trust of India information company late on Wednesday night time.

Once they end excavating the extra 13 meters (43 ft), the rescuers can insert and weld collectively pipes by which the employees can crawl to their freedom.

Singh mentioned he hoped that the trapped staff could be rescued Thursday morning.

Rescuers resumed drilling horizontally by the doorway of the tunnel Wednesday after issues with the machine compelled them to cease digging final week and contemplate alternate rescue plans.

The mountainous terrain in Uttarakhand state has proved a problem to the drilling machine, which broke down as rescuers tried to dig horizontally towards the trapped staff. The machine’s high-intensity vibrations additionally precipitated extra particles to fall.

The staff have been trapped since Nov. 12, when a landslide precipitated a portion of the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) tunnel they have been constructing to break down about 200 meters (650 ft) from the doorway.

On Wednesday night, ambulances and a group of 15 docs have been deployed to the accident website, PTI reported.

Relatives who had gathered there instructed the information company they have been lastly feeling optimistic, after days of hysteria and concern over the rescue and well-being of the employees.

Devashish, whose brother-in-law is amongst these caught, mentioned he spoke to him on Monday. “Sonu repeatedly told me not to worry now and that we would meet soon,” he mentioned.

Authorities started supplying the trapped staff with scorching meals, made from rice and lentils, by a 6-inch (15.24 cm) pipe earlier this week after days of them surviving off of dry meals despatched by a narrower pipe. Oxygen is being provided to them by a separate pipe.

Officials on Tuesday launched a video, after a digicam was pushed by the pipe, exhibiting the workers of their development hats shifting across the blocked tunnel whereas speaking with rescuers on the bottom by walkie-talkies.

Uttarakhand is dotted with Hindu temples, and freeway and constructing development has been fixed to accommodate the inflow of pilgrims and vacationers. The tunnel is a part of the Chardham all-weather highway, a flagship federal mission connecting varied Hindu pilgrimage sites.

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