Silkyara Tunnel collapse: Rescuers release first video of 41 trapped workers
In the video, captured using an endoscopic camera, the workers, wearing yellow and white helmets, are seen receiving food items sent to them through the pipeline and talking to each other
Rescuers on Tuesday (November 21) released the first video of the workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi for 10 days.
The visuals were captured using an endoscopic camera sent in through the alternative six-inch food pipeline.
In the video, the workers, wearing yellow and white helmets, are seen receiving food items sent to them through the pipeline and talking to each other.
This comes as a big relief to the families of these workers.
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) Director Anshu Manish Khalkho had earlier said that cameras would be inserted through the pipeline to see how the workers were doing. The camera was sent in after it came from Delhi late on Monday evening.
First hot meal in 9 days
On Monday night, a hot meal of khichdi was packed in bottles to be sent to the trapped workers soon after the six-inch wide pipeline was laid through the rubble of the collapsed tunnel.
“Food items including Khichdi, Dal are being prepared and packed to be delivered to the people trapped inside the tunnel,” Hemant, who cooked the hot meal told ANI on Monday evening.
“Food will be sent to the people trapped inside. For the first time, hot food is being sent to them. Khichdi, Dal and fruits are being sent,” the cook said.
So far, a four-inch existing tube was being used to supply oxygen and items like dry fruit and medicines into the section of the tunnel beyond the rubble of the collapsed portion of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel on the Char Dham route in Uttarakhand.
IAF flies in critical equipment
Meanwhile, employing a C-17 and two C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, the IAF airlifted 36 tonne of critical equipment on Monday, continuing to lend assistance to efforts being made to rescue the workers.
The IAF has been ferrying heavy machineries to aid rescue operations at the tunnel site. "#IAF assistance for the rescue operations at Uttarkashi continues unabated. Employing a C-17 and two C-130 J aircraft, the IAF airlifted another 36 tonnes of critical equipment today. IAF #HADROps will continue until all the equipment is delivered," the Indian Air Force posted on X.
It also shared images of some critical equipment being loaded in an IAF aircraft. IAF officials on Friday had said that a C-17 transport aircraft had been deployed to airlift almost 22 tonne of critical equipment from Indore to Dehradun.
(With inputs from agencies)