Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Rescuers establish audio-visual communication with trapped workers at Silkyara tunnel, workers healthy, talk with rescue teams

Earlier, hot food was channelled to trapped workers of the Silkyara tunnel for the first time on Monday. Rescue operation in-charge Colonel Deepak Patil said plastic cylindrical bottles with wide mouths are brought so that we can send bananas, apples, khichdi, and daliya.

Uttarkashi:As times tick by amid the desperation of family members of trapped miners to see them being evacuated safely, rescuers on the tenth day of operations at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi achieved a significant milestone. An endoscopy camera was successfully inserted into the collapsed section on Tuesday making it possible for them to capture the first audio-visual footage of the trapped workers, who appeared safe as the rescue team tried to establish contact with them.

The endoscopic flexi camera showed the workers speaking to the rescue teams informing them that they were healthy. The rescue team has begun the process of laying a pipeline inside the Silkyara Tunnel, and communication was established with individual workers to get a health update from them. Another significant milestone was achieved as rescuers reached the tunnel with a vertical drilling machine from the upper part of the hill above the tunnel.

This development comes as 41 labourers remain trapped inside the tunnel. It took 13 hours and 3 vehicles to bring this machine, Harbanz, the driver who brought parts of the drilling machine, said. This follows a breakthrough on the ninth day of rescue operations when a six-inch-wide pipeline was pushed through the rubble of the collapsed portion, creating an alternative lifeline for the stranded workers. For the first time since the incident, hot Khichdi was sent to the workers through this pipeline.

On Monday, rescues achieved a 'breakthrough' by pushing a six-inch-wide pipeline through the rubble of the collapsed portion, where 41 labourers are trapped.

Through this six-inch alternative lifeline, hot Khichdi was sent to the stranded workers for the first time since they were trapped. On November 12, it was reported that a collapse occurred in an under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot due to a muck falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, trapping 41 labourers.

As per the government, the labourers are trapped in the 2 km-built tunnel portion, which is complete including concrete work that provides safety to the workers. Electricity and water are available in the portion of the tunnel and workers are provided food items and medicines through a four-inch compressor pipeline.

After the breakthrough, the horizontal boring by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) from Silkyara end for the rescue of workers through the Augur boring machine will be recommenced in the coming time.

Earlier in the day, rescue operation in-charge Colonel Deepak Patil said that although their 'main challenge' is evacuating trapped men through 900 mm pipe, which will be attempted later, the food, mobiles, and chargers will be sent inside the tunnel through the 6-inch lifeline.

On what food items will be sent to trapped labourers, he said that keeping in mind the condition of the labourers, a list has been prepared with the help of doctors on available food options.

"We are bringing plastic cylindrical bottles with wide mouths so that we can send bananas, apples, Khichdi, and Daliya," he added. Rescuers filled Khichdi in cylindrical bottles to be sent to the stranded workers.

Hemant, the cook who prepared the Khichdi for the trapped labourers, said that this was the first time a hot meal was being sent to the workers. "This food will be sent inside the tunnel. This is the first time a hot meal is being sent. We are sending Khichdi. We are only preparing the food which we have been recommended," he said.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the work of evacuating the workers trapped is going on at a fast pace and if during this period, any relative of the trapped persons arrives at the site, the government will make arrangements for their travel, accommodation and food.