Uttarakhand tunnel accident: First pictures of workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel surface

Efforts are still going on to rescue 41 laborers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel due to the collapse of a part of it in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, the first pictures of the workers trapped in the tunnel have emerged. In the pictures surfaced, workers trapped in the tunnel are seen wearing safety helmets. According to the information, for the first time hot food was sent to 41 laborers trapped in the tunnel.

A camera was sent inside the tunnel which showed footage all the trapped workers. During this time, they also talked on walkie-talkie.

41 workers have been trapped in the tunnel for more than a week. The rescue team has not been able to rescue them yet. There is difficulty in the rescue operation due to excessive debris and soil subsidence from above. Meanwhile, on Monday (November 20), the new 6-inch pipeline was successful in delivering solid food to these laborers for the first time.

Rescue operation in-charge Colonel Deepak Patil said that mobile phones and chargers will also be sent to the workers through pipes. Officials said all the workers are safe and they are being supplied food and water through steel pipes. The under-construction tunnel is part of the ambitious Char Dham project, an initiative to increase connectivity to the pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

The rescue team sent hot khichdi in bottles to these workers through this pipe. They have become weak due to not getting proper food for so many days. A cook named Hemant prepared khichdi for 41 laborers trapped in the tunnel. He told that this is the first time that hot food is being sent to the workers. "We are sending only khichdi. We have to cook only the food that has been recommended to us," Hemant said.

A portion of the 4.5 km long Silkyara Tunnel under construction on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri Highway had caved in on November 12.