Families of trapped workers endure long waits amidst collapsed tunnel crisis
In Uttarkashi, northern India, the families of stranded laborers are enduring an interminable wait, yearning for the safe return of their children. Charku Bedia, a 70-year-old father, has anxiously awaited 15 days for his 25-year-old son, Anil Bedia, to emerge from the collapsed under-construction tunnel.
Expressing the profound fear that has gripped the entire family since learning of Anil's entrapment, Charku emphasized their singular desire for his safe return. The Bedia family, hailing from Kheerabeda village near Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, has been profoundly affected by the distressing situation, with three villagers still trapped in the tunnel. Charku implored, "We just want him to come out, and then we won't send him for work."
Sukhram Bedia, an 18-year-old laborer, is also among those trapped, heightening the anxiety of his father, Barhan Bedia, and his wife. The families earnestly appeal to the government for swift and effective measures to rescue their loved ones from the tunnel.
"When the incident occurred, we were initially assured that the workers would be swiftly evacuated from the tunnel within a few hours. However, several days have passed since then. The uncertainty about our son's well-being is overwhelming. We are left questioning why the government is encountering such difficulties in the rescue operation and facing significant delays," he said.
"I can only speculate about the mental stress the trapped workers must be enduring. Although authorities are sending food and providing oxygen, the circumstances in which my son finds himself remain unknown. The families are reliant on mobile phones for updates about their loved ones," Barhan Bedia expressed, reflecting the shared concern of the affected families.
Among the 41 workers trapped, 15 hail from Jharkhand, a state with a substantial population that migrates annually in search of employment due to economic constraints. Local sentiments suggest that adequate employment opportunities within their home state could have deterred the workers from seeking jobs elsewhere.
In a bid to support the stranded laborers, state officials from Jharkhand have been dispatched to Uttarkashi.
As the horizontal drilling faced challenges for three consecutive days in rescuing the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, the rescue operation has shifted to vertical drilling for greater efficacy.
As of Sunday, the rescue team has completed drilling up to 19.5 meters out of the required 86 meters in vertical drilling to reach the 41 trapped laborers in the Silkyara tunnel.
The process is estimated to take 100 hours if there are no obstructions. Simultaneously, manual drilling is set to commence soon after removing debris from the broken American-made auger machine, which halted horizontal drilling on Friday, November 24.
Six rescue plans are in progress or scheduled, according to retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hussain, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority.
The tunnel, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's infrastructure project, collapsed on November 12, trapping workers inside. Construction began in 2018 to connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon towns, facilitating access to a Hindu pilgrimage site in northern India.
