White, yellow, orange plastic caps on their heads, tiredness on their faces but their eyes were shining with the rays of hope for life. For the first time in 10 days, on Tuesday (November 21, 2023), the camera reached 41 laborers trapped in the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi. Actually, these people are stranded here since November 12 due to landslide.
The people of the relief and rescue team there delivered food to them through six-inch pipes. With the help of this pipe, walkie-talkies and endoscopic flexi cameras were sent there. When his picture came out for the first time through this camera, he could also talk to the people involved in his rescue through walkie-talkie.
However, there is still a gap of about 40 meters thick debris between the rescue teams and the trapped workers. Being in the Himalayan region and due to the soil here, it is a big challenge to get them out of there, but even after this, when their faces came on camera at around 3.45 am on Tuesday, it was a moment of excitement for the rescue teams, even if it was for a while. It was a moment.
Even though after this the atmosphere there again became serious to make further rescue strategy. Along with planning the next step to evacuate the workers, the relief and rescue team reassured the workers that they would soon reach there to rescue them. On hearing this, even in these difficult circumstances, the faces of the workers lit up.
‘We will reach you soon’
When the workers were asked over the walkie-talkie, “Are you OK? If all is well with you, please show yourself to the camera. Please raise your hands and smile.” On hearing this, the workers responded by lining up in front of the camera.
Due to being stuck there for so long, he had grown a small beard. Their heads were covered with hard plastic caps. They cameras He waved his hand to indicate that he was fine. Meanwhile, a rescuer said, “We will reach you soon, please don’t worry.” Please come in front of the camera one by one. “We want to show your relatives that you are okay.”
These workers were then asked to take cameras from inside the pipes and focus on each one of them. Then the rescue team members told them, “We can see you very clearly.” Meanwhile, when a rescuer asked these workers whether the walkie-talkie sent through the pipe was found, they gestured to inform about its discovery.
After this, the rescue workers told them all about using the walkie-talkie. Let us tell you that camera and walkie-talkie connections are important for long-term rescue operations. A six-inch pipe inserted amidst the debris has become a lifeline for these workers trapped in the tunnel.
Through this, food and medicines can be sent to the workers. On Tuesday, khichdi was sent to the workers through this pipe in the tunnel for the first time in 10 days. The cameras and walkie-talkie connections will now help rescue teams to boost morale and reassure workers amid their agonizing wait to return home.
Respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji called again today and took information about the relief and rescue operations of the workers trapped in the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi.
On this occasion, the Honorable Prime Minister was congratulated for successfully passing the 6 inch diameter pipeline through the debris and…
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 21, 2023
PM Modi also took information about tunnel rescue-relief work
State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also heaved a sigh of relief. Not only this, PM Modi called again and took updates about the relief and rescue operations of the workers trapped in the under-construction tunnel of Silkyara. CM Dhami told the PM that a 6-inch diameter pipeline has been taken across the debris to the workers.
CM Dhami told the PM that through this, food and other essential items are being delivered to him. Along with this, with the help of endoscopic flexi camera, conversations were held with the workers and information about their efficiency was also given. On this the PM also said that it is his first priority to evacuate all the labor brothers safely.
The families of the workers trapped in the tunnel have also heaved a sigh of relief after receiving the news that they are safe. He is happy to finally get this news. The younger brother of a laborer trapped in the tunnel says, “My elder brother is trapped in the tunnel. His name is Vishwajeet Kumar. I am in constant touch with him. Another relative of mine Subodh Kumar is also inside. Everyone is fine there. They don’t have any problem. They are happy that another pipe has been found through which food will also be available. Till now only dry fruits were available. We feel very relieved.”
He further said, “They are more than happy that they got the second pipe. So that maybe they can get complete food. Till now he was managing by eating dry fruits. Food etc. can go through the second 6 inch pipe. They have got further relief that the process is going on from outside and efforts are being made to evacuate us. So those people are also happy.”
‘I am 90 percent positive that my brother will come out’
Vishwajeet, who was trapped inside the tunnel, also told his younger brother, “Although we are not feeling any problem inside, but now we feel a little better that we will be able to talk easily through this second pipe. It was not possible to talk easily in the first pipe. Through this pipe we are able to talk face to face with outsiders. We feel very relieved by this.
He says that we too are relieved to know that our elder brother is safe. We are happy that with this they will have the facility to eat complete food. The video of those people came through the pipe, that is enough. The brother of the laborer trapped in the tunnel said that they are all roaming around inside, all are safe. We all are very positive about him now. This is a 90 percent positive situation because now they will come out safely.
#WATCH Uttarakhand: A family member of a worker trapped in the tunnel in Uttarkashi said, “My elder brother is trapped in the tunnel. His name is Vishwajit Kumar. I am in constant touch with him. Another of my relatives, Subodh Kumar, is also inside. Everyone is fine there. They have no problems. They… pic.twitter.com/zmn9ykY2OT
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) November 21, 2023
He further said that because earlier there was tension that if this first thin pipe creates any problem inside, then what can be the solution, at that time it was difficult to say how much time will be taken for the outside process, but the second pipe Now there is no problem in going inside.
On the other side, trapped in the tunnel a laborer sent an emotional message to his mother, “I am fine mom, please eat your food on time.” Earlier on November 20, international tunnel expert Arnold Dix had also reached here. He had assured that the workers would be evacuated soon. A robotics team also came from the Defense Ministry.
This team had told that they are also trying to establish WiFi connection inside the tunnel. Other electronic devices have also been sent to the workers through pipes. Along with this, the work of moving the 900 mm pipe forward with the help of auger machine to evacuate the workers is also going to start again.
On November 12, 41 laborers were trapped after a landslide in a tunnel under construction between Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarakhand. The tunnel is part of the Centre’s ambitious Char Dham projects and is on the proposed road to connect Uttarkashi and Yamunotri.
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