these men. workers are now being brought out one by one. the latest we are hearing, at least eight people now out. pretty speedy. it was thought it would take a number of hours but already it is being reported that at least eight people are out. they are being brought out one by one on wheel stretches through a 90 centimetre pipe which is being pushed through all of the rubble and official safety evacuation is expected to take a number of hours. but as i was saying, already they are going pretty smoothly and quickly. relatives gathering near that tunnel entrance waiting to be reunited with their loved ones as they come out. watching all of this is our south asia regional editor. after two and a half weeks or more, they have after two and a half weeks or more, they have finally done it. it is such welcome news for all _ finally done it. it is such welcome news for all of _ finally done it. it is such welcome news for all of those _ finally done it. it is such welcome news for all of those involved - finally done it. it is such welcome news for all of those involved in l news for all of those involved in the rescue work and for the workers. they have managed to stay in this very small place and they work without light, without enough one close, they were able to survive 17 days with some food and medicine sent through another small pipe, and it has come as a big relief for all of those involved, good news for the country. they were waiting for this news, 41 workers trapped for nearly 17 days, and let me recap how this happened. this is a 11.5 kilometre tunnel and was part of a bigger road project to connect some of the most visited hindu pilgrimage sites in the state of uttarakhand, himalayan state, and a section of this tunnel when they were working, it collapsed close to the mouth of the tunnel and trapped these 41 workers. the authorities, for the last two weeks, were trying various means, for example, going through horizontally through the debris to reach these workers, they wanted to insert a pipe so workers could go through the pipe. that got into problems because many of these huge machines broke down several times, and even taking these machines to this region is also a big challenge. and they started drilling vertically from the top of the tunnel to reach the workers. even getting to the workers was a challenge, they had to clear a lot of trees, and what people have been waiting for is this good news of people coming out one by one. as we speak, we have already heard about eight workers have been brought out. we saw the pictures are one of them with an indian minister who is already inside the tunnel. it is a complex operation and one of the rescue officials describe it as like a battle, because every time they were drilling through, they were encountering challenges. rocks, equipment, huge iron girders were inside. they had to cut through and finally they ended up having this manual work, finally they ended up having this manualwork, manual finally they ended up having this manual work, manual drilling work towards the miners, that was the last ten metres, that is what they announced today. they broke through the debris in the morning using these manual drilling work and now these manual drilling work and now the pipes have been laid and intestinal disaster management agency where rehearsing for this —— national disaster management agency. they crossed and now we have heard eight people have come out and more are expected in the next hour also, but it is very welcome news, very happy news. this has gripped media coverage in india and now finally the welcome news we were waiting for. �* , , ., ., , for. and the numbers are going up relatively quickly. _ for. and the numbers are going up relatively quickly. it _ for. and the numbers are going up relatively quickly. it is _ for. and the numbers are going up relatively quickly. it is now- relatively quickly. it is now reported 13 people are out. now they have established that route with those wheel stretches, they appear to be getting them out pretty quickly. in terms of their condition, there were a1. whether any report at any stage of people being injured in the original collapse?— being injured in the original collase? ., , m , collapse? luckily for these workers, there was a — collapse? luckily for these workers, there was a water— collapse? luckily for these workers, there was a water pipe, _ collapse? luckily for these workers, there was a water pipe, a _ collapse? luckily for these workers, there was a water pipe, a small - there was a water pipe, a small water pipe through which they were able to send food, water and medicine, and they were also communicating with them via radio. they also sent in a camera to see the condition of the workers. most of the workers said they were all in good condition, the only thing was waiting in this tunnel was darkness. the psychological impact on these workers, they were getting very impatient when talking with officials, when will we be rescue? and as the pictures show, they were done billions —— dozens of ambulances outside, and they will be taken in these ambulances, given medical tests at the same place, to see how they are coping with the conditions and if there is any injuries or any other damage that happened during this 17 days. another hospital nearby has been getting ready to receive these a1 workers in case they have any more serious injuries or if they needed further hospitalisation, they will be put there for a few days. 0fficials be put there for a few days. officials also managed to make these back—up plans, like you have some sort of field hospital inside the tunnel. as soon as they get out, doctors will be there to take care of them and then to take them to the nearest hospital, there are a number of ambulances. we saw the pictures of ambulances. we saw the pictures of doctors with white coats walking inside the tunnel as well. the authorities had been planning for this for days and now the workers are coming out. the first priority would be the welfare of these workers. this is, again, if an accident happens, someone dies or people were injured, people wouldn't have noticed, but this is a group of a1 people. this gripped india, many newspapers and tv channels have been carrying it, and global interest about how they will save this people and in the government they brought in experts from different countries to see how they are drilling through this debris. suddenly there is a debris of 60 metres that fell inside the tunnel. no one died luckily. that is why they are now trying to find out how they are bringing these people and finally it happened. the immediate concern for authorities would be whether all of them are in good health. would be whether all of them are in good health-— good health. we're 'ust the live -ictures, good health. we're 'ust the live pictures. huge _ good health. we're just the live pictures, huge rescue _ good health. we're just the live j pictures, huge rescue operation there, but another ambulance just heading away. as i say, the latest report, at least 13 of those men are brought to the surface. you are saying earlier they have been able to get a shaft of oxygen to those men, food, water, but only yesterday, they sent down cricket bats and balls and those men were said to be playing cricketjust to keep their spirits up. in said to be playing cricket 'ust to keep their spirits uph said to be playing cricket 'ust to keep their spirits up. in fact, the lace keep their spirits up. in fact, the place where _ keep their spirits up. in fact, the place where they _ keep their spirits up. in fact, the place where they were _ keep their spirits up. in fact, the place where they were stranded | keep their spirits up. in fact, the . place where they were stranded was about two kilometres wide so they had some space, it was not like they were confined to a small space. during the daytime, it can get really hard and it can get very cold in the night. so the silver lining was this small pipe through which they could send and communicate constantly, telling them, do not worry, we are coming, we will be drilling through this debris and we will be reaching you very soon. then they were sending all of these things to keep them occupied. the most important thing is people do not lose morale and sitting in the darkness with a few lights and a few walkie—talkie radios, for 17 days, sitting there not knowing whether they will drill through this debris and reach them... they would be really afraid. 0ne and reach them... they would be really afraid. one of the relatives were saying, he spoke to his cousin and asked them when they will come because they had been waiting, but nothing happened. and then authorities a few days ago, they were very confident by the end of the evening that people would be coming out of that did not happen. because one of the machines broke down and the blades got stuck in the debris itself. taking those blades out, they had to bring another machine. they used the indian military to bring these machines. they dismantled them into three different parts and brought them and then reassembled them in uttarakhand. they were brought from places in the south and the west, they were flown in. this was a massive coordination efforts by various indian agencies and the state government and federal government and national disaster management agency, and the challenge of course was the workers, the condition of the workers, how they can cope with this huge... they have been saying, there are so many tunnel roadworks going on in india, these kind of accidents happen. it will be very natural for these workers to have the fear of this happening. it is important for them to keep up morale and keep up the spirit. people had sent various things through the pipe to keep them occupied. they even had a telephone line to talk to relatives near the tunnel itself, so they could give them hope. 0ther tunnel itself, so they could give them hope. other workers were worried they were not getting enough information about why it was taking so long but there were physical challenges, enormous challenges and many international experts were talking about how it required massive coordination. you are fighting against nature, you are in the himalayas and not dictating anything, the mountains are dictating it. whether it is warm, cold, the depth of the debris. 0ne cold, the depth of the debris. one of the challenges was that many of the vehicles and machines were stuck in the debris. the vehicles and machines were stuck in the debrie— in the debris. sorry to cut across ou but i in the debris. sorry to cut across you but ljust — in the debris. sorry to cut across you but i just want _ in the debris. sorry to cut across you but i just want to _ in the debris. sorry to cut across you but i just want to tell - in the debris. sorry to cut across | you but i just want to tell viewers as they are watching these pictures that indian media is now reporting that indian media is now reporting that all of those men have got to the surface, they have all been brought out safely. indian television reporting that in the last few minutes. just looking at the clock, it started, this operation, about a5 minutes — an hour ago, operation, about a5 minutes — an hourago, it operation, about a5 minutes — an hour ago, it has ended up being much quicker than authorities had originally mapped out. they thought it would take between two and three hours, but they had absolutely planned it out, once they got the final shaft to the men, they already had got these wheeled stretches organised and they were pulling them men out one by one. the sum of the latest pictures that have just come into us will stop look at the face behind batman who has been pulled out, the smiles, the greetings —— that man. the individuals look a little shell—shocked having got to the surface. for 17 days, they have waited for this moment, but it has come and it has come successfully. there were so many challenges here to actually get to these workers. they tried different tactics, they failed one by one so they had to try something else. finally, as he was saying, they used these physical diggers for the last ten metres also and that was what they were doing for the last few hours. 0nce and that was what they were doing for the last few hours. once they got through to that area, they actually got this final shaft that they had put into place and then, one by one, those men were pulled to the surface. indian media saying all them now have got to the surface, as you see, another of the ambulances leaving. all of them are being examined the makeshift medical centre they have established there. but they then are being taken to hospital for the but they then are being taken to hospitalfor the more but they then are being taken to hospital for the more thorough checks, but 17 days underground. finally all of them out. what these pictures do not show us, and we have reported, all of the families kept in an area to one side very close to the entrance of that whole tunnel area in preparation for these men being brought out. there were flowers, sweets being distributed, they knew it was coming. they have waited so long, but they were being told by those various rescue teams on the ground that they had made huge amounts of progress and they were almost there. 0ver huge amounts of progress and they were almost there. over the last few minutes, success, as all of those men have now been brought to the surface. what a success this operation has been. the chief minister of the state is there, the prime minister has been watching, but there must have been huge amounts of pressure group those 17 days as all of those different avenues were tried and failed? there was a lot of — avenues were tried and failed? there was a lot of pressure _ avenues were tried and failed? there was a lot of pressure on _ avenues were tried and failed? there was a lot of pressure on the - was a lot of pressure on the government, as well as for the company which was involved in the work and also the state government and various authorities. in this day and various authorities. in this day and age, everything goes on social media, so the government was deploying all its resources, not only the national disaster management agency, they brought in international experts. they use the indian military. in fact, some of the indian military engineers, and special equipment, and the prime minister's secretaries were there. in fact, his advisors work there closely advising on the work. the government was very keen that this ends up in a success and that is why they have put enormous amount of resources stop now we hear from the indian media that all a1 have come out, they will have started the work which earlier and were waiting to release the information to the media so all of them can come out and give the good news to the people and we saw the pictures of these workers with the indian ministers. now, the government itself was keenly watching what is happening, as you know. it is also election time, five states are going to the polls, so it was also a big issue. people are raising questions about what the government is doing about these workers, now this has happened and this has been a big boost for the government as well. of course, there will be questions asked later on when they start reviewing how this happened, why there were so many precautions that were not taken, why there was not any emergency shaft that was not inserted into the tunnel. many experts were questioning in a tunnel of this kind, you have to have an escape mechanism, like another pipe in case of anything happening. if a landslide or a big airfreight happens, people control out through these shafts or pipes. these kind of things will come much later on. that is why the government has also ordered a review of all tunnel work. the government has started building roads alongside the china border, especially in the himalayas, they are doing this faster, building tunnel so they can have all roads to the border, this one was in one of the border, this one was in one of the hindu pilgrimage sites, which is why they wanted to have this all—weather access to these pilgrimage sites. the government is very much relieved and this is good news for the government officials and the rescue agencies. now we have to see what conditions the workers are in and talk to relatives. this to see what conditions the workers are in and talk to relatives.- are in and talk to relatives. as you are in and talk to relatives. as you are talking — are in and talk to relatives. as you are talking there, _ are in and talk to relatives. as you are talking there, we _ are in and talk to relatives. as you are talking there, we were - are in and talk to relatives. as you are talking there, we were looking at the still pictures of several other workers as they emerge, all of them being embraced by the state's chief minister, and just to confirm, information coming to us now being reported directly from the minister saying all a1 indian workers trapped in the tunnel had been rescued. initially we were getting that from the immediate, this has now been confirmed by state ministers and you can see pictures there, the relief and politicians, as you were saying there, for the last few days, just to oversee the operation as it came to oversee the operation as it came to its culmination, to be there to see those final stages play out. there you can see one of those workers, just the image of the first workers, just the image of the first worker after, the minutes and moments after coming to the surface. it must be slightly bewildering in terms ofjust it must be slightly bewildering in terms of just the it must be slightly bewildering in terms ofjust the amount of people they are seeing as they emerge to see daylight for the first time in 17 days. they will have known of the operation going on above them. the communication channels, telephone is installed, but to see just the vastness of the operation, when you have seen the wider shots of all of those rescue crews and the rescue teams that have assembled over the last two weeks, that all come to fruition, to actually rescue these men. so often with these types of stories, they are quite often not a success story like this. so there will be a huge amount of relief both for the rescue teams, but of course for the rescue teams, but of course for the rescue teams, but of course for the workers and all of those family members, those that have been there throughout, the 17 days. they work—out not far from the tunnel entrance, trying constantly to get updates as to the condition of the men. but it was such a step forward initially when they got initial communications. they could establish that those men were alive simply trapped, and then becamejust that those men were alive simply trapped, and then became just the task of how to actually get to them. they tried going straight down, they stride a variety of other methods, with huge machinery. for example, that machinery on friday broke down, and there was considerable hope that day we could get to this moment, but then a big setback. again, change of tactics. but all of that being thrashed out in terms of logistics. but they came up with a plan and it has been a successful plan. you are still watching the scenes, we wait to see if there is any comments from the chief minister or others now that they are all above ground. but just rewind for us. in terms of what sparked this initially. it was a landslide, wasn't it? government officials have _ landslide, wasn't it? government officials have not _ landslide, wasn't it? government officials have not confirmed - landslide, wasn't it? government officials have not confirmed what| officials have not confirmed what exactly led to this debris falling within the tunnel, there are suspicions it could be a landslide. also, the debris was about 60 metres long, so all of a sudden it happened. the himalayan region is very vulnerable and known flooding. you have this global climate change arriving with a huge impact there and we have seen flash floods there. also earthquakes and landslides. these are very common in the himalayas, which is why many people are questioning why we should carry out such development work in this very fragile region. even though we do not know exactly what led to this, but it is possible that huge landslides are happening because of the drilling. they were using this massive machine, these are not small drilling machines, they are massive, going through the tunnel. 0ne drilling machines, they are massive, going through the tunnel. one of the machines when they were drilling, they had to stop the work, they did not use it again. they had to bring in another machine because it was so powerful, it was even creating this huge sound in the tunnel. questions will be asked about how this happened, how they can prevent it. this is a a.5 kilometre tunnel, we are talking about a $1 billion project and hundreds of workers were involved in this project. all of these reviews will have to be carried out, but for the time being, it is a time to rejoice, feel happy, feel gratitude towards the mountain itself. people are praying, they have set up makeshift temples near the mouth of the tunnel and there are things from different parts of the country. people were worried and camping outside in the cold weather, seen when loved ones would come out, when they can see them. it became a gripping human tale for everyone, notjust the families gripping human tale for everyone, not just the families and rescuers. almost everyday, you heard this machine broke down and they could not get through the debris, the government was trying the vertical drilling option... there was lots of twists and turns, but in the end, it has all come out as a good story, as you pointed out. not many of these tunnel collapses or mine collapses we hear about end with a success story, but this one is very unusual one and there was a lot coordination and a massive effort put in by various officials. we must congratulate all of these rescue teams from the government and state government and foreign experts. that is a big success story. you do not hear about many positive stories these days, and that itself is a big positive story which will lift the spirits of many workers and people in the country. the spirits of many workers and people in the country-— in the country. the tunnel itself is of course part _ in the country. the tunnel itself is of course part of— in the country. the tunnel itself is of course part of this _ in the country. the tunnel itself is of course part of this $1.5 - in the country. the tunnel itself is of course part of this $1.5 billion l of course part of this $1.5 billion highways, one of the prime minister's most ambitious projects. do we assume that until they work out what happened, why it happened, all of those questions you touched upon earlier, that the project goes on hold or is that not the case? that's depends on the review. first we have to work out how they can clear this debris for 60 metres long. that will take awhile before can clear it. that is a huge mammoth project to clear. now they have to consider whether it is viable to continue with this tunnel given the shifting of land or landslide. since then, they have already done an enormous amount of work, even from the other side, they have put in girders and concrete from the other side. whether they can give up, that is a big question. that'll be a huge challenge given the amount of money they have invested and effort they have taken and the importance of the project. it is not only for the pilgrims. this is also close to the china border, it is easier to move troops and equipment in case of any emergency, any conflict in future. it is a multipurpose tunnel. these were all done after going through enormous environmental clearance and also planning work. the development work, especially tunnelling work and roadwork, going at a very fast—paced. because india is trying to catch up with china in terms of road and tunnel access so they can move men and materials quickly to the border, because the two countries have border tensions. if you talk from here all the way down, there is development work proving infrastructure. but given up altogether on this tunnel will be a big question that will be for experts to decide. they will conduct a review, but first they must find out why there was not any emergency exit, whether all of these procedures were followed or not. the companies will have lots of questions to ask, to answer, and people will also ask how they will clear this debris, this huge amount of debris. physically is it possible or can it be done? these are questions for the rescue teams and the authorities later on. for the time being, the whole focus is on how we get these people back to hospitals and check them and then resume their normal lives so they can start their normal lives. this resume their normal lives so they can start their normal lives. as we watch the live _ can start their normal lives. as we watch the live pictures, _ can start their normal lives. as we watch the live pictures, i - can start their normal lives. as we watch the live pictures, i was - can start their normal lives. as we watch the live pictures, i wasjustl watch the live pictures, i was just saying any car emerging, the cameras being pointed at them, the microphones, but no official word other than that one line i read outs that has been reported from on the ground, the chief minister saying all a1 workers trapped inside the tunnel had been rescued. you can see from the picture it is a little clearer now, as so many rescue workers come clearer now, as so many rescue workers come away clearer now, as so many rescue workers come away from the entrance of the tunnel right at the top of the picture, still some ambulance crews there. but the majority of the work has been done and it has been done successfully and we waited to hear any sort of news conference that gives us some other detail, but just looking at the clock and returning to thought. they have managed to execute this much quicker than originally anticipated. 0nce than originally anticipated. once they got that key new shaft in place where they had those wheeled stretches, it seems that they were very quickly able to get those people out one by one. they have done it more or less inside an hour and there are still some ambulance crews there. but that is the entranceway of the tunnel, that is the focus of where the work has been. to one side, that is where some of the families had been camped out. you are mentioning that this is in the north of india, close to the border, that coldness will have been a factor in what the men have gone through during recent days, and perhaps the medical attention they are now receiving? in perhaps the medical attention they are now receiving?— are now receiving? in fact, both cold and it _ are now receiving? in fact, both cold and it was _ are now receiving? in fact, both cold and it was also _ are now receiving? in fact, both cold and it was also part, - are now receiving? in fact, both l cold and it was also part, because during the daytime, confined in that very small place without any ventilation, one of the experts were saying that it was very hot inside during the daytime. it is a compact area where there is no exit, so they were having a big space to move around but at night it was getting very cold. so they managed to withstand both conditions. the most important thing is for them to be sitting in the dark with minimum light and with batteries sent by rescue workers... for them, to see the light when they come out, they couldn't even believe it when they came out of these tiles. finally we are out, we are in the outside world. it will take awhile for them to gather their and come to the reality. sitting inside with this uncertainty, that is the most. they could hear the drilling sound, but it is the machines breaking down, that means, 0k, it is the machines breaking down, that means, ok, maybe they are starting again tomorrow. they are no near yet so far for the last so many days. forthem, it is near yet so far for the last so many days. for them, it is the challenging weather, the big factor, and luckily that didn't happen, otherwise people will have known whether they would have hypothermia because of the cold, whether they were developing other symptoms. they were developing other symptoms. they were managing both conditions. working in the tunnel requires specialised skill, it is not like building a road or a plane, specialised skill, it is not like building a road ora plane, it specialised skill, it is not like building a road or a plane, it means conditions are harsh and the mountain itself can change the nature. like, they can get very cold or they can see the landslide or flooding can happen. everything can change in a matter of minutes in the himalayan region. that is why survival itself are 17 days... they have managed it and now they are out. as you are going through the challenges, because they are in