LUCKNOW, INDIA • Forty-one workers remain trapped in a collapsed road tunnel in northern India for a seventh day as a new drilling matching arrived on site to replace the damaged one.

The nature of the exceptionally hard rock formation in the area coupled with the clearing of debris damaged the original machine and paused rescue efforts on Friday, according to officials. This added a new challenge to the long-drawn rescue efforts.

The workers have been trapped since Sunday, when a landslide caused part of the tunnel to collapse. Relatives from various states have spent nights near the tunnel, seeking updates. The new machine reached the site later Saturday.

On Saturday, a team of experts held a meeting to also discuss other potential methods to rescue the trapped workers amid concerns that the drilling machine’s high-intensity vibrations could cause more debris to fall and hinder efforts.