Recently, in New Delhi, India, a group of 41 construction workers were working on a project near the Himalayan Mountains and suddenly a tunnel collapsed on them all. These 41 workers were then trapped under this tunnel for over a week in rough conditions with an enormous amount of debris required to be broken through to save the people.
With saving the individuals stuck under the tunnel, there has been many complications. First, the drilling machine broke down as it couldn’t “beat” the Himalayan mountains, causing a delay. This forced the rescuers to work by hand to remove debris in hopes of reaching the stranded workers. Another complication was finding a method to keep these individuals healthily living with food and oxygen. Fortunately, the rescuers found a way to resolve this issue by attaching paths of pipes that can deliver food and provide a clean path of oxygen.
Currently, rescuers are working on inserting and welding together pipes that would be the trapped workers’ route to freedom. A lot of progress has been made towards this issue, starting from a broken machine to working paths of food and oxygen. However, there is still a long way to go to ensure the individuals’ safety.
Some other effective public policy measures may include establishing a coordinated emergency response center, mobilizing specialized rescue teams and resources, collaborating with neighboring countries for support, ensuring transparent communication with the public, providing temporary shelter and support for affected families, reviewing and strengthening safety regulations, implementing insurance and compensation mechanisms, prioritizing training and preparedness, and considering international best practices to prevent future incidents. These measures aim to manage the crisis, support victims, and prevent similar accidents through improved safety standards in the meantime of getting the 41 individuals out of the tunnel.
Ayan Kumar's Blog 