An operation to rescue 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in the Indian state of Uttarakhand has resumed after a blockage was hit, officials said.
If all goes according to plan, they hope to release workers within the next 10 to 12 hours.
Workers were working inside the tunnel after part of it collapsed due to a landslide on November 12.
Rescue efforts were slowed Wednesday night when the drill encountered a steel structure that could not be cut.
Rescuers have so far dug through three-quarters of the rubble where the workers were trapped, and hopes were high that they would be freed by Thursday morning.
A gas cutter was then used to cut through the obstruction, delaying the work by approximately six hours.
“If everything goes as planned and there are no obstacles, we should complete the rescue operation by tonight,” National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General Atul Karwal told BBC Hindi on Thursday morning.
Kaval added that the authorities are ready to deal with any obstacles that may arise.
“We’re going to get these people out,” he said.
Officials contacted those trapped hours after the collapse.
They were supplied with oxygen, dry snacks and water through a pipe that was pulled to supply water to the construction tunnel.
They also keep in touch with them regularly and update them about their health status.
Friends and relatives of the workers are anxious to find out why it is taking so long for people to come out.
Earlier this week, some of them were able to catch a glimpse of their loved ones through endoscopic cameras installed in the tunnel.
On Thursday, Mr. Karwal said that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had spoken to the workers in the morning and that he was in good spirits.
“I think even they will be saved soon,” he said.
Authorities are working to run several pipes of different widths through a 60-meter-long gravel wall to create microtunnels for workers to take refuge in.
However, the work faced several delays and obstacles due to loose soil, hard rock and fallen debris.
American-made drills were hauled in from across the country after excavators failed to remove thick layers of dirt and rock.
The powerful tool has a spiral shaft at the end that rotates and pushes dirt and rocks into the ground.
When the last lifeline reaches the worker, a doctor is sent to check on his condition.
An ambulance is waiting outside the tunnel.
Officials said the goal is to keep workers safe and transport them to the nearest hospital if possible.