New Delhi: After 10 days of rescue effort, the workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand were seen for the first time early on Tuesday morning as a camera inserted through a pipe captured their visuals.
An endoscopic camera was pushed inside the tunnel through a six-inch pipe inserted through the rubble on Monday night to send food for the 41 workers trapped since a portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12.
The visuals showed the labourers in their hard hats and work gear, waving to the camera, and communicating that they are coping well, given their trying circumstances. Rescue officials, speaking to the workers through Walkie Talkies or radio handsets, were seen asking the workers to come in front of the camera.
“Aap camera ke paas walkie talkie pe aake baat karein (Come in front of the camera and talk to us through Walkie Talkie),” an official was heard asking them.
The trapped workers also had their first hot meal in 10 days as khichdi sent in glass bottles through the pipe on Monday night. Till now, they had survived only on dry fruits and water.
The official in charge of rescue operations, Colonel Deepak Patil, said the workers would soon be sent mobiles and chargers through the pipe.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared the video of the workers, saying that they all are safe and will be rescued soon.