Uttrakhand Tunnel Rescue: Late Tuesday evening, good news came for the families of 41 laborers trapped in the Uttarkashi Tunnel of Uttarakhand for the last 17 days, for which everyone was eagerly waiting. Virendra from Banka district of Bihar was also trapped in the tunnel. Retired Panchayat servant Munnilal Kisku, resident of Tetaria village of Lakrama Panchayat of Katoria and co-polane driver Virendra Kisku, younger son of Jeevika didi Sushma Hambram, were also taken out safely. As soon as the rescue was completed, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami first went inside the tunnel. He met all the trapped laborers and congratulated the entire rescue team and extended best wishes to the trapped laborers and their families.
Virendra hugged his brother inside the tunnel.
After a few minutes, Virendra Kisku’s elder brother Devraj Kisku, who was waiting outside the tunnel, got permission to go inside the tunnel. Virendra Kisku’s eyes filled with joy as soon as he saw his elder brother in the tunnel. Both the brothers remained clinging to each other for several minutes. Then as soon as he came out of the tunnel, Virendra was taken to the hospital for health checkup in an ambulance. Elder brother Devraj Kisku also went to the hospital in the ambulance vehicle. While wife Rajni Tudu and sister-in-law Sunita Tudu arrived in another vehicle. As soon as he came out of the tunnel, Virendra also talked to his mother Sushma Hambram, father Munnilal Kisku and all three children through mobile.
Brave Virendra had been working in the tunnel.
While talking to Prabhat-Khabar after coming out of the tunnel, Virendra Kisku told that during the last 17 days he was not at all scared. He told that after 12 hours of getting trapped in the tunnel, water, food, oxygen etc. started being available inside. Poklane driver Virendra told that even inside the tunnel he had been doing daily work of removing debris etc. Never became frustrated or disappointed, nor did he get scared. He also had full faith in the government and administration. After talking to family members, the morale increased. Also worked to console fellow laborers.
Mother thanked PM and CM
Virendra Kisku’s mother Sushma Hambram thanked the Prime Minister of the country Narendra Modi and the entire rescue team including Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on the completion of the rescue and the workers coming out of the tunnel safely. The mother told that for the last 17 days, she had been praying to God every day for the safe exit of all the laborers including her son Virendra Kisku.
Porridge, khichdi, bread and vegetables were also found in the food.
It may be noted that on November 12 itself, 41 laborers were trapped inside due to subsidence during the ongoing work in the Uttarkashi tunnel. After the rescue that continued for 17 consecutive days, all the workers came out safely. Devraj Kisku, elder brother of Katoria laborer cum Poklane driver Virendra Kisku, wife Rajni Tudu and sister-in-law Sunita Tudu were camping outside the Uttarkashi tunnel since November 16. Everyone was eagerly waiting for Virendra to come out safely. The fruit of the wait proved to be sweet and pleasant late Tuesday evening. A wave of happiness was seen among the villagers including family members. There was widespread talk in the surrounding areas about courageous Virendra being trapped in the tunnel for 17 days.