Dehradun, Nov 21 (The Street Press India) – On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for the second day in a row. He asked about the efforts to rescue 41 workers who have been stuck in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi for the past 10 days.
In a post on X, Dhami mentioned that he assured Modi about the workers’ safety. The prime minister emphasized that the rescue mission is the highest priority.
Modi has now spoken to Dhami four times to check on the progress of the rescue operation since the tunnel collapse on November 12. He also had a conversation with Dhami on Monday.
Dhami shared in his post that Prime Minister Modi called again today, checking on the ongoing operation to rescue the workers stuck in the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.
He informed the prime minister about the successful insertion of a 6-inch pipeline through the rubble. This pipeline will be utilized to supply larger quantities of food and other necessary items to the trapped workers.
Dhami conveyed that he updated the honorable prime minister about the workers’ well-being through the endoscopic camera conversation. The prime minister reiterated that our top priority is to ensure the safe rescue of all workers.
On Tuesday, rescuers shared the initial video of the trapped workers inside the collapsed section of the tunnel. The footage was captured using an endoscopic flexi camera, sent through the alternative 6-inch pipeline.
The camera arrived from Delhi late on Monday evening and was promptly sent in for use.
The video depicts workers wearing yellow and white helmets receiving food items sent through the pipeline and engaging in conversation with each other.
Rescue operations have been underway with a sense of urgency since portions of the tunnel collapsed due to a landslide early on November 12. The workers were left trapped behind a substantial mound of debris.
Until Monday, a four-inch existing tube was utilized to provide oxygen and essential items such as dry fruits and medicines to the section of the tunnel beyond the rubble of the collapsed portion.
The Silkyara tunnel, located approximately 30 km from the district headquarters of Uttarkashi and a seven-hour drive from the Uttarakhand capital Dehradun, is integral to the ambitious Char Dham all-weather road project initiated by the central government.
