Uttarakhand Indrajit Kumar, who spoke to two of the 41 laborers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand for the last 10 days, said, they (laborers) told me not to panic, we will meet outside soon. Two members of Indrajit’s family are trapped inside the tunnel, after talking to whom he has seen a new ray of hope. Indrajeet’s younger brother Vishwajeet and relative Subodh Kumar are trapped inside the tunnel.
Vishwajeet’s children are waiting for their father to return
Indrajit, a resident of Giridih, Jharkhand, said on Wednesday that Vishwajit’s three children are waiting for his return and praying for him. I had called him on Diwali but could not talk. When I contacted one of his associates, he told me that Vishwajeet was trapped inside the tunnel. I reached there the next day. He said that I saw Vishwajeet and Subodh in the video of the workers released by the rescue workers on Tuesday. He said, both of them looked fine. Today (Wednesday) I heard his voice. He told me that it was only a matter of a few hours.
The family members of the workers camped outside the tunnel
Almost every laborer had the same message for his family members, who have been camping near the tunnel for several days. Devashish’s brother-in-law Sonu Shah is also present among the laborers trapped inside the tunnel. Devashish said that he is hopeful that the workers will come out soon. Devashish said, today (Wednesday) we were taken inside the tunnel and we talked to our family members. Sonu repeatedly told me not to worry now and that we would meet soon.
Sonu has been working in the tunnel for three years
Devashish said that after seeing Sonu’s name in the newspaper, his family came to know that he was trapped inside the tunnel. He said, we had called him on Diwali but could not be contacted. His friends told us that Sonu’s mobile phone was damaged. Later we saw his name in the newspaper and came to know that he was trapped inside the tunnel. Sonu was working in the tunnel for three years. His wife and one year old daughter live in Chapra, Bihar.
Relief and rescue operations continue
According to rescue team officials, rescue workers have inserted about 45 meters wide pipes in the debris and about 12 meters more remains to be excavated to reach the trapped workers. The authorities have made elaborate arrangements to provide health facilities to the workers after they are taken out of the tunnel through pipes.