Workers trapped in Uttarkashi tunnel ask parents to eat meals on time

The rescue operation in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel has achieved a major breakthrough in establishing communication with the trapped workers in the tunnel with the help of a 6-inch pipeline.

Worker's emotional message to his family

Jaidev, a trapped worker said to a supervisor in Bangla "Please record, I will tell something to my maa, tension karoni aami thik achi. Time a kheye nebe. Bakakeo time a kheye nite bolbe.(Mother, do not worry about me, I am fine. Please you and father eat your meals on time.)"

First visuals of workers trapped in tunnel

In a significant development on Tuesday morning, the first visuals emerged of the 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. The rescue operation, now in its tenth day, took a positive turn as rescuers successfully pushed a six-inch-wide pipeline through the tunnel rubble. This achievement allows for the delivery of larger quantities of food and provides live visuals of the workers' condition.

To capture these crucial visuals, an endoscopic camera was sent through the alternative 6-inch food pipeline. The camera serves a dual purpose – counting the trapped workers and providing insights into the internal geography of the tunnel. In the footage, workers donned in yellow and white helmets are shown receiving food items sent through the pipeline, as well as engaging in conversation with each other. Over the walkie-talkie, they were encouraged to show themselves before the camera by raising their hands and smiling, to which they responded by lining up for the camera.

Anshu Manish Khalkho, Director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), had previously indicated that cameras would be inserted through the pipeline to monitor the well-being of the workers. In a statement, he expressed relief that all the workers are safe and reassured ongoing efforts to safely extricate them.

With the hope of a breakthrough, rescue authorities are set to commence vertical drilling on Tuesday afternoon, aiming to reach the trapped workers. The drilling operation is scheduled to begin at 2 pm from the Silkyara end of the tunnel. Earlier attempts to conduct a drone survey at the tunnel site faced challenges, as the drones could not navigate beyond 28 meters over the debris due to obstructions, resulting in damage to one of the drones.

Simultaneously, efforts are underway to fabricate a protection canopy for the pipe drilling machine. The process of pushing the pipe using an auger machine began early on Tuesday, marking another crucial step in the comprehensive rescue mission. As the operation unfolds, the nation remains hopeful for a successful resolution to this challenging rescue mission in Uttarakhand.

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