hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live. let's welcome to verified live. stay with the breaking ns from let's stay with the breaking news from india. india is celebrating the rescue of all 41 construction workers, who'd been trapped inside a collapsed himalayan tunnel for 17 days. this was the first worker to be brought out, we'll on a stretcher initially through that evacuation pipe, pushed through the rubble. the men have been greeted by officials overseeing the operation in the north of the country. the workers — who're mostly in their 20s — are said to be in good health. but they've been taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for a full medical assessment. it follows a rescue operation lasting 400 hours, which has been plagued by setbacks including the repeated breakdown of drills. live pictures there of the entrance

of the tunnel area, where the focus of the tunnel area, where the focus of the tunnel area, where the focus of the operation has been. you cannot see the exact area where, finally, those hand drillers managed to actually get through the debris, pushed through just to actually get through the debris, pushed throughjust a to actually get through the debris, pushed through just a small pipe, and that was the pipe that was actually used to bring out on stretchers, one by one, the men. let me show you some of the pictures from some of the moments after the men got out. the chief minister there welcoming, one by one, as the men came out. some beaming smiles, some looking shell—shocked after what they had been through. there is one of the huge smiles, but it has been such a desperate rescue operation at times, with huge setbacks and, as the days stretched out, for the families it was

absolutely agonising. but of course, there was good news along the way because they did manage to get pipes down to the larger area where the men were holed up, and that meant they could pump oxygen down, they could get food down, water down, even communications. those men were able to make phone calls stopped look at the relief of those faces. they could make phone calls with family members and talk to them. and, of course, be told that rescue teams were getting ever closer. there is some of the pictures in the immediate moments. you can see some of the clapping by those people there. but back to a live shot, and as our correspondence were taken through, the men were being medically assessed immediately after they came out, they are now at medical assessment centres, later on they will be taken to hospitals nearby. they will be taken to hospitals nearby. let's get more on this

from our south asia regional editor anbarasan ethirajan. he has been monitoring everything we have been seeing over last couple of hours. the last couple of hours, huge success after multiple failures. it huge success after multiple failures. , ., , ., ., failures. it is great news for all of those involved, _ failures. it is great news for all of those involved, the - failures. it is great news for all| of those involved, the workers, families and the rescue teams, and the whole country. this is one story that can travel across the borders. this is a story about human endurance and human effort to rescue these people against nature, against these people against nature, against the elements. it is a big success story for all of those involved in this particular rescue process for the last 17 days. this particular story had so many twists and turns, because of repeated machine breakdowns, and the weather changing, and they were facing all kinds of challenges and reaching the

people itself was a huge challenge. various agencies were co—ordinated, and you can see 41 workers are now finally out of this tunnel through this pipe, where they were stretchered out. it has brought much relief and happiness for all of those involved in this entire process. the whole country celebrates now, these 41 workers being rescued. it is one of those very few stories where you have this positive ending, despite knowing that they are fighting against a huge national challenge of 60 metres of debris. anything could have gone wrong at any point of time. for example, when they decided to do this vertical drilling from the top of the tunnel after the machines broke down, there were concerns. you have to go through nearly 90 metres, that could mean some water source or some sort of spring coming out and that would flood the tunnel. that

kind of fear was always there for people, whether it can also lead to another landslide. among all those challenges and difficulties, these workers have been rescued. it is also a sign of remarkable resilience and endurance and how these 41 workers kept themselves busy or occupied, without losing hope, without having any breakdowns, and all they wanted was to come out alive and sealable once. that has happened. at bringsjoy alive and sealable once. that has happened. at brings joy and happiness. it was more like a celebratory atmosphere outside the tunnel, where there was a small temple and people were shouting in jov- temple and people were shouting in joy. it is a very welcome event for all those concerned.— all those concerned. briefly, you touched upon — all those concerned. briefly, you touched upon it. _ all those concerned. briefly, you touched upon it. they _ all those concerned. briefly, you touched upon it. they tried - all those concerned. briefly, you touched upon it. they tried so i all those concerned. briefly, you . touched upon it. they tried so many different tactics, but in the end, it was simply done manually. those final metres were done by hand, won't make? and we saw a little

earlier one of the groups of workers go through the shots on screen punching pierre, because it was such a success when the use that tactic. i can imagine, —— punching the air. when they had this breakthrough, when they could break the debris and go to the other side, i can imagine the happiness and relief for the guy doing it. and also for the workers. after the machines broke down, for huge ones, the blades got stuck in the debris, they had to use the rat hole miners, the hand drills, to go through the last ten metres. it was challenging, difficult, but they ended up using this technique to get through the final metres and that made a lot of difference in terms of reaching out. people were expecting at least two to three days more by

using these manual drilling, but finally they were able to do it and that made a big difference. anbarasan, thank you once again. we will talk again in the coming minutes as we stay with the pictures. all of this in the aftermath of those 41 actually getting out. it was quite quick in the end once they had established contact, once they had the tunnel in place, had the stretchers working, one by one they got them out quite quickly after 17 days. you can see the relief as they are going past all those officials and groups of rescue workers, but ultimately to the ambulances before being whisked away. let's continue to watch these pictures and speak to the professor of labour practice and an expert on the indian labour market. thank you for being here with us. your headline thought. i suppose let's

reflect on the joy first of all, because this is such a triumph given all of the adversity.— all of the adversity. yes, a day of ureat 'o all of the adversity. yes, a day of great joy and _ all of the adversity. yes, a day of great joy and relief— all of the adversity. yes, a day of great joy and relief for _ all of the adversity. yes, a day of great joy and relief for us - all of the adversity. yes, a day of great joy and relief for us in - great joy and relief for us in india — great 'oy and relief for us in india. ., ., ., ,., india. tell me a little more about the industry _ india. tell me a little more about the industry we _ india. tell me a little more about the industry we are _ india. tell me a little more about the industry we are talking - india. tell me a little more about the industry we are talking about| the industry we are talking about and its history, and the sort of questions you think will be raised now once we get through this phase of the relief and joy. i am now once we get through this phase of the relief and joy.— of the relief and 'oy. i am very lad that of the relief and 'oy. i am very glad that this _ of the relief and joy. i am very glad that this incident - of the relief and joy. i am very glad that this incident has - of the relief and joy. i am very glad that this incident has a i of the relief and joy. i am very - glad that this incident has a good, happy— glad that this incident has a good, happy ending. i wish i could say the same _ happy ending. i wish i could say the same of— happy ending. i wish i could say the same of other related incidents in india _ same of other related incidents in india the — same of other related incidents in india. the construction fatality rate in — india. the construction fatality rate in india is alarmingly high. according — rate in india is alarmingly high. according to the report by the international labour organisation, construction worker fatality in india — construction worker fatality in india is— construction worker fatality in india is the highest worldwide.

given— india is the highest worldwide. given the _ india is the highest worldwide. given the rate at which construction is increasing — given the rate at which construction is increasing both residentially and commercially, these kinds of accidents are more likely to happen. this raises— accidents are more likely to happen. this raises important questions on what _ this raises important questions on what went— this raises important questions on what went wrong and what can we do to make _ what went wrong and what can we do to make sure to make sure that these kind of— to make sure to make sure that these kind of incidents do not make happen again _ kind of incidents do not make happen again i_ kind of incidents do not make happen again. i believe there are several factors— again. i believe there are several factors in— again. i believe there are several factors in the industry that make the construction worker a targeted population whose efforts are devalued in the larger ecosystem of the indian _ devalued in the larger ecosystem of the indian construction industry. there _ the indian construction industry. there is— the indian construction industry. there is also a need for increased safety _ there is also a need for increased safety equipment as well as safety education for the construction workers _ education for the construction workers. what can we do to make sure they are _ workers. what can we do to make sure they are better educated, better prepared, and what kind of technology can we use to ensure these _ technology can we use to ensure these kinds of traumatic incidents do not _ these kinds of traumatic incidents do not occur as frequently as they do not occur as frequently as they do now? — do not occur as frequently as they do now? it— do not occur as frequently as they do now? it is an important question

and they— do now? it is an important question and they need to be answered. yes, and they need to be answered. yes, and a lont and they need to be answered. yes, and a long list. _ and they need to be answered. yes, and a long list, as _ and they need to be answered. yes, and a long list, as you _ and they need to be answered. yes and a long list, as you describe this vulnerable group, but they have been asked for year upon year, decade upon decade, do you realistically think there is any likelihood of change? it is realistically think there is any likelihood of change?- likelihood of change? it is an interesting — likelihood of change? it is an interesting question. - likelihood of change? it is an interesting question. there l likelihood of change? it is an l interesting question. there are likelihood of change? it is an - interesting question. there are two sides— interesting question. there are two sides to _ interesting question. there are two sides to this issue. on the one hand. — sides to this issue. on the one hand. the _ sides to this issue. on the one hand, the government has put in place _ hand, the government has put in place several regulations to help them _ place several regulations to help them ensure that they get the minimum grade and make sure they have basic— minimum grade and make sure they have basic social security life protection. that said, on the other hand, _ protection. that said, on the other hand. there — protection. that said, on the other hand, there is a need for us to strengthen— hand, there is a need for us to strengthen our implementation framework, to make sure these laws are being _ framework, to make sure these laws are being implemented in the way that they— are being implemented in the way that they need to be. the fact that most _ that they need to be. the fact that most of— that they need to be. the fact that most of the construction worker population in india and prices of migrant— population in india and prices of migrant labourers, the profile is typical— migrant labourers, the profile is typical of— migrant labourers, the profile is typical of all the people that were

'ust typical of all the people that were just rescued, in the late 205, male and ju5t rescued, in the late 205, male and illiterate. people that are always — and illiterate. people that are always on the go. for this kind of population. — always on the go. for this kind of population, their association with an employer, they work primarily in the informal sector... that means the informal 5ector... that means they— the informal 5ector... that means they do— the informal 5ector... that means they do not— the informal sector... that means they do not necessarily have a written — they do not necessarily have a written contract. because of that, they say— written contract. because of that, they say automatically —— they automatically beat them to become legible _ automatically beat them to become legible for law5 automatically beat them to become legible for laws that protect them. add that _ legible for laws that protect them. add that to the illiteracy and the difficulty— add that to the illiteracy and the difficulty in making them understand what they— difficulty in making them understand what they need to know for their own safety _ what they need to know for their own safety and _ what they need to know for their own safety and security. these factors come _ safety and security. these factors come together to make sure that they are the _ come together to make sure that they are the targeted population within the construction sector. is anything likeiy— the construction sector. is anything likeiy to _ the construction sector. is anything likely to change? yes, it can change with the _ likely to change? yes, it can change with the right kind of education and implementation framework put in

place _ implementation framework put in place by— implementation framework put in place by the government. we implementation framework put in place by the government.- implementation framework put in place by the government. we will see if that happens. _ place by the government. we will see if that happens, but _ place by the government. we will see if that happens, but in _ place by the government. we will see if that happens, but in terms - place by the government. we will see if that happens, but in terms of- if that happens, but in terms of this phrase, for those not familiar with it, rat mining, because that is illegal. how common is that practice still? rat illegal. how common is that practice still? ., illegal. how common is that practice still? . ., , , ., ., still? rat mining has been outlawed since 2015. but — still? rat mining has been outlawed since 2015. but it _ still? rat mining has been outlawed since 2015. but it is _ still? rat mining has been outlawed since 2015. but it is still _ still? rat mining has been outlawed since 2015. but it is still quite - since 2015. but it is still quite commonly used, especially in the coal mines — commonly used, especially in the coal mines. it is because the structure _ coal mines. it is because the structure of the coal mines is such that sometimes narrow tunnels have to he _ that sometimes narrow tunnels have to be dug _ that sometimes narrow tunnels have to be dug through them and the tunnels— to be dug through them and the tunnels are called rat holes because they are _ tunnels are called rat holes because they are just big enough for one huntan— they are just big enough for one human being to enter. a person enters— human being to enter. a person enters the — human being to enter. a person enters the tunnel, brings out the coal enters the tunnel, brings out the coat and — enters the tunnel, brings out the coal and enters transported outside the ropes _ coal and enters transported outside the ropes and ladders. it is an extremely— the ropes and ladders. it is an extremely hazardous practice because these mines are notorious for their instability — these mines are notorious for their instability. the air inside it is extremely dangerous to inhale and all the _ extremely dangerous to inhale and all the environmental damage that

this kind _ all the environmental damage that this kind of coal creates is another issue _ this kind of coal creates is another issue that— this kind of coal creates is another issue. that said, this practice continues— issue. that said, this practice continues to be rampant and although it is outlawed, i am pleased it is this practice that got these people out in _ this practice that got these people out in the — this practice that got these people out in the end. that this practice that got these people out in the end.— out in the end. that is what got them through _ out in the end. that is what got them through the _ out in the end. that is what got them through the final - out in the end. that is what got them through the final few- out in the end. that is what got. them through the final few metres out in the end. that is what got - them through the final few metres in them through the final few metres in the end. we have to leave it, but thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. thank you for your time. let's stay with these pictures and talk. your reaction to what we have seen playing out over the last problem hours?— have seen playing out over the last problem hours? absolute 'oy, great relief. imagine, * problem hours? absolute 'oy, great relief. imagine, these _ problem hours? absolute 'oy, great relief. imagine, these 41_ problem hours? absolute joy, great relief. imagine, these 41 workers i relief. imagine, these 41 workers were trapped inside that whole full 17 long days, and when they came out, ijust spoke 17 long days, and when they came out, i just spoke to a 17 long days, and when they came out, ijust spoke to a reporter there who is present on the site of this accident, and he told me that

the labourers who came out of that collapsed tunnel, they are happy, they are healthy, they are being taken to local hospitals, about 35 kilometres away from the site, and for government, the authorities have created a green road, green corridor. so no traffic is allowed between this site and the hospital, they are being taken there and they are facing —— they are said to be hardy. i need to talk about the developmental model which is being practised in that area. the typography of the area is the himalayas, they are very young mountains. to the north is tibet, to the east is napalm. the government has a very ambitious plan of connecting four hindu

temples by all—weather roads. so in winter, this entire area is covered in snow, but the government says that we have to make, construct roads so that people can go to these temples throughout the year, even during the winter, summer any time. in order to construct these roads, they are drilling tunnels, holes inside the mountains. this has been warned against, and these are fragile mountains. so the government has come under heavy criticism also, but at the moment, let's rejoice at this moment, it is a huge success and a great relief. it this moment, it is a huge success and a great relief.— and a great relief. it really is, but ultimately, _ and a great relief. it really is, but ultimately, you _ and a great relief. it really is, but ultimately, you are - and a great relief. it really is, i but ultimately, you are probably right, that some of those questions you are raising will come in the

end, be questions that need to be answered and will be answered, but in terms of political pressure, take me through what it has been like both at state level and national level as the nation has watched these last 17 days as it has evidence and flowed. it these last 17 days as it has evidence and flowed. it was a hopeless _ evidence and flowed. it was a hopeless situation _ evidence and flowed. it was a hopeless situation because, i hopeless situation because, initially, the government was criticised because there was no instant reaction and the authorities were criticised because they did not react immediately. so when they reacted, the machine to make a hole inside the debris, it broke, as your speakers by telling you. that machine did not work. it was a hopeless situation. 0n

machine did not work. it was a hopeless situation. on top of that, the trade unions were very educated, the trade unions were very educated, the government was criticised for not having an emergency plan. and thinking of escape routes for the workers, experts say that when you make a tunnel, you have to make escape routes just in case there is an emergency. workers need to escape. so the workers unions have said that the accident is a result of what they call the profit hungry new liberal policies of the federal and state governments. this is the kind of criticism government is facing and the unions were also saying the central government reacted late and sent its team very late. finally, these rat miners were sent and they worked very hard and some of them came on television and spoke to reporters, they went from new delhi, about 400 kilometres from

there, and they were successful. but now the government, when these all—weather roads were being planned, somebody went to the supreme court to stop it. the government said, for security reasons, it is very important for us because china is in the vicinity, and there is not a very cordial relationship with china. so the supreme court said, ok, go ahead with this plan. environmentalists and activists... i with this plan. environmentalists and activists. . ._ with this plan. environmentalists and activists. . .— with this plan. environmentalists and activists... i was speaking only and activists... i was speaking only a short while _ and activists... i was speaking only a short while ago _ and activists... i was speaking only a short while ago to _ and activists... i was speaking only a short while ago to a _ and activists. .. i was speaking only a short while ago to a professor- and activists... i was speaking only a short while ago to a professor of| a short while ago to a professor of earth science and sped on seismic research in the region, he was saying that because india has this rivalry with china, in his view, there was a construction arms race going on in the region between india

and china. this perhaps one of the by—products and the real downside of getting into a race like that. this race between — getting into a race like that. this race between china _ getting into a race like that. ti 3 race between china and india is damaging the very fragile himalayas. 0n damaging the very fragile himalayas. on both sides of the mountain range, the tibetan side also and here in india also, and the thing is, in 2013, there was a messy flood in the area. hundreds of people were killed. some of them, most of them were pilgrims going to all of those hindu temples. but no lesson was learned. this is what the environmentalists say. despite the widespread damage and floods,

nothing was learned. the construction work is still going on, people are building houses, hotels, and all of those things for tourists. so there are no checks and balances. that is the whole problem with this developmental model. the government is implementing the same developmental model which is meant for the playing area, not the hills. i think now is the time for the government and decision—makers, the authorities, to take a step back and think about it. —— plain area. [30 think about it. -- plain area. do ou think about it. -- plain area. do you think _ think about it. —— plain area. do you think that is realistic? i was talking to an expert in india's labour markets before coming to you, they talked about construction laws, talk about these classic vulnerable

groups of workers, illiterate men in their 20s, without much backing or economic clout leverage. is it realistic to think any of the laws that cover construction will actually change, is it realistic to think this $1.5 billion highway that the prime minister is having as a pet project will be frozen? 0r the prime minister is having as a pet project will be frozen? or any of those things likely?— of those things likely? exactly, this is the _ of those things likely? exactly, this is the same _ of those things likely? exactly, this is the same line _ of those things likely? exactly, this is the same line of - of those things likely? exactly, l this is the same line of argument that has been spread, this is not realistic and we have to have development, we have to have roads everywhere, including the hills. but the nature teaches you. if you don't learn from your mistakes, then nature is unforgiving. it has happened before in this zone. this

is the seismic zone. earthquakes have come in 1991, there was an massive airbrake. —— earthquake. hundreds of people were killed. the decision—makers, the government has to think about it. the modernist thinking of people who support this development model, they will always say this is unrealistic and we must have employment and development. but if nature comes down on you, nobody can stop it. so it will further damage everything. human lives, animals, the whole environment, ecology. animals, the whole environment, ecolot . . animals, the whole environment, ecolot . , animals, the whole environment, ecolot. , ecology. re'sh joshi, stay there, because as — ecology. rejsh joshi, stay there, because as we _ ecology. rejsh joshi, stay there, because as we continue - ecology. rejsh joshi, stay there, because as we continue to - ecology. rejsh joshi, stay there, because as we continue to watch i ecology. rejsh joshi, stay there, - because as we continue to watch the pictures of the aftermath of this

rescue, because the leader of the rescue, because the leader of the rescue team was able to give an update to the reporters with him and i want to put that on screen. translation: they are coming out one by one and are coming out very easily. by one and are coming out very easil . ., . , ,. by one and are coming out very easily-_ ”i by one and are coming out very l easily-_ 2-3 so by one and are coming out very - easily._ 2-3 so far. easily. how many rescue? 2-3 so far. how is their— easily. how many rescue? 2-3 so far. how is their situation? _ easily. how many rescue? 2-3 so far. how is their situation? first _ easily. how many rescue? 2-3 so far. how is their situation? first class. i how is their situation? first class. are they— how is their situation? first class. are they being examined by doctors? yes, are they being examined by doctors? yes. they— are they being examined by doctors? yes, they are being examined and there is no problem. he yes, they are being examined and there is no problem.— yes, they are being examined and there is no problem. he was right, one by one. _ there is no problem. he was right, one by one. they _ there is no problem. he was right, one by one, they came _ there is no problem. he was right, one by one, they came out - there is no problem. he was right, one by one, they came out and - there is no problem. he was right, one by one, they came out and in l one by one, they came out and in pretty quick time. and i havejust seen out of the corner of my eye, another set of pictures showing some of the reactions to those people coming out, we will play you those in a moment or two. back to rejesh joshi, thejournalist we

in a moment or two. back to rejesh joshi, the journalist we were talking to before. great scenes of joy- talking to before. great scenes of joy. in terms of what we were talking about before, it is entirely possible that some of those larger questions you were raising gets simply lost in the emotion and relief of what we have seen actually happen here today. it is relief of what we have seen actually happen here today.— relief of what we have seen actually happen here today. it is a moment to re'oice, it happen here today. it is a moment to rejoice. it is — happen here today. it is a moment to rejoice. it is a — happen here today. it is a moment to rejoice. it is a happy _ happen here today. it is a moment to rejoice, it is a happy moment - happen here today. it is a moment to rejoice, it is a happy moment and - rejoice, it is a happy moment and everyone is happy throughout the country and internationally. people in sitting in peru, 41 people who did not have any hope for their lives, they have come out. nobody is saying this is a moment to warn, all of us are very happy, but this is the moment when we have to think about a larger question, about human endeavour, human development. what

is the basic definition of development? whose development, what kind of development? is tourism everything for the government of the people in the tourism industry? what about the people? local people also, they want to end their money from tourism, fine, there is no problem with that. the only thing is if they allow multistorey buildings. and when nature comes down heavily on them, everything gets sucked away, which is more damaging. lode them, everything gets sucked away, which is more damaging.— them, everything gets sucked away, which is more damaging. we have to leave it there — which is more damaging. we have to leave it there because _ which is more damaging. we have to leave it there because we _ which is more damaging. we have to leave it there because we have - which is more damaging. we have to leave it there because we have come to the end of this segment of our programme. thank you for being with us and for those thoughts of you continue to see those pictures. all 41 of those construction workers rescued, brought out alive, these

the immediate moments after that rescue was completed. do stay with us, we will have more on bbc news. temperatures quite a few degrees what we normally have at this time of year, frost at night, and barring a few wintry showers, looking generally dry. a few wintry showers around that area play pressure today, colderair coming in behind that weather front there arriving across scotland, the far north of england. as early as the early evening, frost developing. 3—5 further south. wintry showers moving down through scotland and into the north—east of england. further south, more far developing, like

showers heading towards the south—west, where temperatures should remain above freezing because of the cloud. elsewhere, and more widespread frost, —70 —8 in some parts of scotland. more mild towards the south—west where the cloud will break up, we will continue to see the shower into the afternoon. most of the showers arriving across northern scotland, running down these north sea coasts, snow over these north sea coasts, snow over the hills of scotland and perhaps the hills of scotland and perhaps the north yorkshire moors as well. large parts of the country will be dry, sunnier than today, but colder because of the frost. temperatures no higher than 2 degrees in glasgow. area of low pressure on thursday continues to steer to the south of the uk. that brings wet weather through the english channel. if there is any snow from that, it is a low risk over dartmoor. it should be out in the english channel. another cold and largely sunningdale on

thursday. some showers in the north—west and running down as north sea coasts. sleet and snow in those as well. temperatures only three or four degrees. this is the temperature anomaly chart. colder thanit temperature anomaly chart. colder than it would normally be at the end of the year in the uk and large parts of europe where there is more snow in the forecast. as far as the uk, not too much snow out of that as we head into december. cold, though, drier with sunshine but there will be frost at night.

welcome to bbc news. let's turn to our main headlines. 31 indian workers in a collapsed tunnel for 17 days have been rescued one by one. the release of more is ready hostages and palestinian prisoners is expected shortly on day five other temporary ceasefire, but can extend beyond the next 48 hours? 2 million people in ukraine and russia had been left without power after hurricane wins, snowfall and heavy rains. and the first transatlantic flight powered only by sustainable aviation fuel is due to land in new york shortly.