Labourer, trapped in tunnel for six days, pulled out alive

40-year-old Narayan Singh was pulled out of the debris at 3:15 AM after tireless round-the-clock rescue operations in which 30 engineers and 100 labourers were engaged.

Singh, who was in a state of shock, did not speak to anyone and was examined by a team of doctors. He was brought out of the shaft by his brother Mamraj and some engineers.
Outside the shaft in Dodawali, village administrative officers and newsmen were eagerly awaiting Singh's arrival.

Singh was working in a 3.3 km long under-construction tunnel between Dodawali and Raita in Jhadol tehsil when it collapsed trapping him on one side on Thursday last. The tunnel was part of a project to solve the drinking water problem of Udaipur city.

On Friday last, a pipe was passed through the tunnel and contact was established with Singh. Since then rescue work was on to take him out.

A 22 meter thick tunnel was dug through the debris to reach Singh. A special hydraulic drilling machine was also brought from the national capital to help in the digging work.

Oxygen cylinders were used to pump in air to the victim and food and water supplied through a pipe.