Rescuers in the Indian Himalayas have made significant progress, reaching the halfway point through the debris to access 41 workers trapped for ten days in a collapsed tunnel, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

Since the tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand state on Nov. 12, the men have been stranded in the 4.5-km (3-mile) tunnel, but authorities assure they are safe, with provisions like light, oxygen, food, water, and medicines.

Head of the rescue effort, retired army officer Deepak Patil, reported that rescue workers have successfully drilled through 32 meters (105 feet) of the estimated 60 meters (197 ft) required to clear the way for a wide pipe, allowing the trapped individuals to crawl out.

A breakthrough occurred on Tuesday as the first images from within the tunnel surfaced, revealing workers in white and yellow hardhats communicating with rescuers. This was made possible by using a medical endoscopy camera pushed through a smaller pipeline.

While the cause of the tunnel collapse remains undisclosed, the region's susceptibility to landslides, earthquakes, and floods adds complexity to the rescue mission.

Challenges persist due to drilling snags in the mountainous terrain, slowing down efforts to bring the workers to safety.