Vishwajeet Kumar Verma, one of the 41 workers successfully rescued on Wednesday recalled his ordeal of being trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district that collapsed due to a landslide on November 12.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Verma said, “When the debris fell, we knew that we were stuck.”
“For the first 10–15 hours, we faced difficulty. But later, a pipe was put in to provide us with rice, dal, and dry fruits. A mic was installed, and I was able to talk to my family members,” Verma said. “I am happy now, will celebrate Diwali,” he added.
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‘They lifted us on shoulders’
Feroze Qureshi and Monu Kumar, skilled in rat-hole mining, were the first to reach the rescued labourers after clearing the final debris inside the tunnel.
“They (the labourers) could hear us when we reached the last portion of the rubble. Soon after removing the rubble, we got down to the other side,” Qureshi, a resident of Delhi’s Khajoori Khas, told PTI.
“The labourers thanked and hugged me. They also lifted me on their shoulders. We are very happy that we were part of this historic operation,” he added.
Medical checkup of 41 trapped labourers underway
A medical checkup of the 41 rescued workers is currently underway at Chiniyalisaud Community Health Centre, as reported by government sources. All workers admitted to the health centre are receiving food as per doctors’ advice.
Dr Pravin Kumar, Health Director of Garhwal Division, overseeing the rescue operation, highlighted the significant role of constant communication in maintaining the mental health stability of the trapped workers.
He noted the consistent presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the state health minister at the site, along with health teams continuously boosting the morale of the trapped workers.