"Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Workers to be Home by Christmas as Vertical Drilling Activated"

The rescue operation to save 41 workers trapped in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, India, may take longer than expected as the blades of the auger machine used for drilling are stuck in the debris. Officials are now considering two alternatives: manual drilling or drilling from above. The National Disaster Management Authority advises patience, while an international tunnelling advisor promises to get the workers out "by Christmas". Heavy equipment is being prepared for vertical drilling, which could begin in the next 24 to 36 hours. The auger machine is currently out of commission, and once it is repaired, manual drilling will commence.