India requests help from Thai 'Wild Boars' team to rescue trapped tunnellers
India has contacted the Thai team that rescued the “Wild Boars” in an effort to save 40 workers who have been trapped in a Himalayan tunnel for 40 days.
India has reached out to Thai and Norwegian cave rescue teams to assist in rescuing the 40 workers, who are running short of oxygen and food.
The tunnel, located in the northern state of Uttarakhand, collapsed during construction work on November 12. Rescue efforts have become urgent following reports that some of the men trapped inside are becoming ill.
“Help is being taken from special teams from Norway and Thailand,” said a statement issued by Uttarkashi District authorities.
“The rescue team has contacted the Thailand company which had rescued the children trapped in the cave,” it added.
The Wild Boars – 12 young football players and their coach – were rescued almost three weeks after becoming trapped by flooding in the Tham Luang cave system in Chiang Rai province in 2018.
The Uttarakhand tunnel is part of an Indian government project to expand transport networks, including a highway from New Delhi through the Himalayas to the Chinese border. The project has faced criticism from environmental conservation groups, who say it is deforesting the Himalayan region.
