In a significant development on Tuesday, rescuers unveiled the first video footage of the 41 labourers who had been trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarkashi for a harrowing 10 days. An endoscopic camera, ingeniously dispatched through a 6-inch food pipeline, captured the scenes deep within the tunnel, offering a glimpse of the workers donning distinctive yellow and white helmets.
सिलक्यारा, उत्तरकाशी में निर्माणाधीन सुरंग के अंदर फँसे श्रमिकों से पहली बार एंडोस्कोपिक फ्लेक्सी कैमरे के माध्यम से बातचीत कर उनका कुशलक्षेम पूछा गया। सभी श्रमिक बंधु पूरी तरह सुरक्षित हैं। pic.twitter.com/vcr28EHx8g
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 21, 2023
The footage showcased a moment of respite for the trapped workers as they received essential food supplies delivered through the innovative pipeline. In addition to sustenance, the video depicted the labourers engaging in conversations with the rescue teams, providing a sense of relief to their anxious families awaiting news of their loved ones.
Anshu Manish Khalkho, Director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), had previously announced the plan to utilize cameras sent through the pipeline to assess the well-being of the trapped workers. The deployment of the endoscopic camera materialized following its swift arrival from Delhi on Monday evening.
On Monday, rescue efforts took a proactive turn as a six-inch-wide pipeline was successfully maneuvered through the debris of the collapsed tunnel, facilitating the delivery of larger quantities of food and other essentials to the beleaguered workers.
Earlier the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a telephonic conversation with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to discuss the ongoing rescue operations. In an official statement, the Uttarakhand CMO revealed that Prime Minister Modi assured the necessary rescue equipment and resources were being provided by the Centre. Modi expressed confidence in a safe evacuation, highlighting the coordination between the Central government and the Uttarakhand state government.
The dire situation unfolded on November 12 when an under-construction tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district collapsed at dawn, trapping the 41 workers inside.
