After spending 10 days trapped in a tunnel in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, workers were provided with a morning meal sent through a six-inch-wide pipeline, a lifeline established earlier on Monday to reach the stranded individuals amidst the rubble. A team of cooks is actively involved in preparing breakfast for the workers, including dishes such as ‘Aloo-Chana Dal,’ ‘Khichdi,’ ‘Daliya,’ and plans for ‘Puri’ later on.
This effort follows the successful transportation of hot Khichdi through the pipeline on Monday, marking the first sustenance reaching the trapped workers since the incident on November 12. The collapse in the under-construction tunnel occurred due to muck falling in a 60-meter stretch on the Silkyara side, trapping 41 laborers. The trapped individuals are located in the 2 km-built tunnel portion, which is complete and includes concrete work for their safety.
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will recommence horizontal boring from the Silkyara end using an Augur boring machine for the rescue operation. Arnold Dix, the president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, arrived at the site to support and expressed optimism about the ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Professor Dix, after inspecting the tunnel and the area above it, expressed positivity about the rescue operation. However, he acknowledged the need for caution, stating, “It is looking good but we have to decide whether it’s good or a trap because it’s looking very positive.”
Rescue operation in-charge Colonel Deepak Patil highlighted that while the primary challenge is evacuating trapped individuals through a 900 mm pipe, food, mobiles, and chargers will be sent through the six-inch lifeline. To ensure the well-being of the trapped workers, a list of available food options, including bananas, apples, Khichdi, and Daliya, has been prepared in consultation with doctors.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured that the evacuation work is progressing rapidly, and arrangements will be made for the travel, accommodation, and food of any relatives who arrive at the site during the rescue operation.
