Watch: ‘First visuals’ of trapped workers inside Uttarkashi tunnel collapse incident 

On Day 10 of the rescue operation at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi, finally, the rescuers achieved a milestone after an endoscopy camera was successfully inserted into the collapsed section of the tunnel. After this, the first visuals of the stranded 41 workers emerged as the rescue team constantly tried to establish contact with them.

First visuals of trapped workers out

The endoscopic flexi camera showed the trapped workers speaking to the rescuers informing them that they were healthy.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Rescue team officials establish audio-visual contact with the workers trapped in the tunnel for the first time, through the pipeline and endoscopic flexi camera.

(Video Source: District Information Officer) pic.twitter.com/JKtAtHQtN4

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2023

Moreover, the rescue team has begun the process of laying a pipeline inside the tunnel and communication was established with the individual workers to get a health update from them.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi tunnel accident: The rescue team has started the work of laying the pipeline inside the Silkyara Tunnel

(Visuals from inside the tunnel) pic.twitter.com/U1R419HauM

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 21, 2023

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to his X account to inform about this latest development in the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation.

"For the first time, visuals surfaced of workers trapped in the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi. All the workers are completely safe, we are trying with all our might to get them out safely soon," he wrote in Hindi on X.

सिल्क्यारा, उत्तरकाशी में निर्माणाधीन टनल में फँसे श्रमिकों की पहली बार तस्वीर प्राप्त हुई है। सभी श्रमिक भाई पूरी तरह सुरक्षित हैं, हम उन्हें शीघ्र सकुशल बाहर निकालने हेतु पूरी ताक़त के साथ प्रयासरत हैं। pic.twitter.com/OO8u99B5Ks

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

Vertical drilling

On Tuesday, the rescue team reached the tunnel with a vertical drilling machine from the upper part of the hill above the Silkyara tunnel. According to ANI, it took 13 hours and 3 vehicles to bring this machine, Harbanz, the driver brought parts of the drilling machine. 

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue operation: The vertical drilling machine from the upper part of the hill above the tunnel reaches Silkyara Tunnel pic.twitter.com/kKoOtcrN9W

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 21, 2023

One of the family members of a worker trapped in the Silkyara tunnel told ANI, "We are hopeful but I will be satisfied once I get to speak to him."

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | A Member of the family of a worker trapped in Silkyara tunnel says, "We are hopeful but I will be satisfied once I get to speak to him."

First visuals of the trapped workers emerged this morning as an endoscopic flexi camera… pic.twitter.com/PURSsr1iWy

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2023