Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dialed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and took stock of the rescue operation to evacuate workers trapped in the partially collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.
Prime Minister Modi, who is calling Chief Minister Dhami daily since November 12 when the incident occurred and taking updates about the 41 trapped workers and their families, instructed him to make arrangements for their health check-up and medical care after their evacuation.
On hindrances being faced in rescue operation, Chief Minister Dhami told Prime Minister Modi that a parallel tunnel is being constructed to the partially collapsed Silkyara tunnel using the New Austrian Tunnel Method and the work is being hampered when some metallic items are obstructing auger machine.
आज आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी ने दूरभाष के माध्यम से सिलक्यारा, उत्तरकाशी में निर्माणाधीन टनल में चल रहे रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन की जानकारी ली। इस दौरान माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी को टनल में फंसे श्रमिकों को सुरक्षित बाहर निकालने हेतु विभिन्न विकल्पों की विस्तृत जानकारी दी।…
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 24, 2023
The rescue operation is taking time as for resuming the drilling work, all metallic things have to be removed, he told the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister enquired about the trapped workers’ condition and the food and daily routine items given to them.
Prime Minister Modi also enquired about the condition of the workers engaged in relief and rescue work and the safety measures being taken for them. The Prime Minister also took stock of the progress of the rescue operations and the work being done as well as the coordination between various agencies, and if any further cooperation was required.
Chief Minister Dhami informed the Prime Minister that besides monitoring the ongoing relief and rescue operations at the ground level, he has also established a temporary Chief Minister Camp Office in Matali, Uttarkashi so that the entire operation can be monitored in a better way.
A six-inch pipeline has been installed through which, fresh cooked food, fruits, dry fruits, milk, juice as well as disposable plates, brushes, towels, innerwear, toothpaste, soap, daily essential items are being sent to the trapped workers in the tunnel, Dhami told Prime Minister Modi.