Tunnel collapse traps 40 workers in Indian Himalaya

A road tunnel under construction in India's northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand collapsed after a landslide, trapping more than 30 workers.

As reported by Sky News, rescue efforts are underway to reach the trapped workers, with oxygen being pumped through a pipe to help them breathe.

Excavators have been removing debris to carve out a path to reach the workers while contact has been established with them and oxygen and food are being supplied through compression pipelines, rescue workers and police in Uttarakhand state said.

Rescuers were awaiting delivery of a wide steel pipe after midnight that would then be pushed into an opening of excavated debris to safely pull out the workers in about 24 hours, said Devendra Singh Patwal, a disaster management official.

The collapsed portion of the tunnel is about 200 meters from the entrance. Uttarakhand, a region popular with tourists, is known for its Hindu temples and attracts a significant flow of pilgrims and tourists each year.