Miraculous Rescue: Trapped Indian Tunnel Workers Saved by 'Rat Miners'

A group of "rat-hole miners," whose profession is effectively banned in India, played a crucial role in rescuing 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in the Indian Himalayas. After heavy machinery broke down, the miners used their expertise in burrowing in tight spaces to reach the workers. They worked tirelessly for over 24 hours, drilling, collecting debris, and pushing it out of a pipe. The miners successfully pulled out the workers in wheeled stretchers after a 17-day ordeal. "Rat-hole mining" is a hazardous method used in Meghalaya to extract coal, often without safety measures, resulting in environmental damage and fatalities.