The first images of workers trapped in the Uttarkashi Tunnel for ten days

New Delhi/Dehradun: Workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand were spotted for the first time early this morning as a camera fitted through a pipe captured their images.

Last night, an endoscopic flexi camera was slid into a six-inch pipe inserted through the rubble to provide food to the 41 workers who have been trapped since a part of the tunnel collapsed on November 12.

The workers, who had thick beards, were seen waving to the camera in their hard hats and work gear, indicating that they were doing well. Rescue personnel were observed requesting the workers to come in front of the camera while communicating with them via Walkie Talkies or radio phones.

"Aap camera ke paas walkie talkie pe aake baat karein (come in front of the camera and talk to us through the Walkie Talkie)," an official was heard urging.

"We will bring you out safely, do not worry," rescuers were heard telling the men.

Last night, khichdi in glass bottles was pushed through the pipe, providing the stranded workers with their first hot meal in 10 days. They had previously survived on dry fruits and water.

सिलक्यारा, उत्तरकाशी में निर्माणाधीन सुरंग के अंदर फँसे श्रमिकों से पहली बार एंडोस्कोपिक फ्लेक्सी कैमरे के माध्यम से बातचीत कर उनका कुशलक्षेम पूछा गया। सभी श्रमिक बंधु पूरी तरह सुरक्षित हैं। pic.twitter.com/vcr28EHx8g

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 21, 2023

Colonel Deepak Patil, the man in charge of rescue operations, stated that mobile phones and chargers would be delivered to the workers via the pipe soon.

Attempts to rescue the workers have failed several times in the last week due to obstacles such as topography and the nature of the rocks in the area. Last week's efforts were hampered by falling debris and landslides.

Rescuers reported great progress after a vertical drilling machine entered the tunnel from the top. A driver told news agency ANI that it took 13 hours and three vehicles to get the machine to the location.

The Centre has prepared a five-option action plan that includes digging from three sides in order to gain access to the besieged workers. Each operation has been assigned to five separate agencies.

Two tunnels will be drilled horizontally from the right and left sides of the main tunnel, with a vertical shaft excavated from the top.

Multiple organisations, including the NDRF, SDRF, BRO, and the ITBP, are working around the clock to save people. Yesterday, an international tunnelling specialist team arrived and joined the efforts. A robotics team from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has also arrived.

According to officials, all workers are safe and are receiving food and water through steel pipes bored into the aperture.

The tunnel is part of the ambitious Char Dham project, a national infrastructural programme that aims to improve access to the Hindu holy sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.