Tunnel rescue: Men & machine both proved crucial says expert

A group of 'rat-hole' miners, hailed as "angels from above," played a crucial role in the rescue of 41 workers trapped in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, India. The miners, working tirelessly for 26 hours with basic tools, cleared the passage for the trapped group to emerge. Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, praised the miners' effectiveness in handling challenging mountainous terrain. The successful rescue operation is seen as an extraordinary example of human willpower in the face of prolonged challenges and adverse conditions.