NEW DELHI, Nov 29
For relatives of the workers who were trapped inside the Uttarkashi tunnel for 17 days after the tunnel partially collapsed on Diwali day, their rescue on Tuesday brought joy and relief. Many of the relatives have been waiting near the site for several days, going through the highs and lows of the complicated rescue operation.
“We missed Diwali. We will celebrate it now,” said Jharkhand resident Aditya Naik, whose younger brother Gunodhar Naik (28) and cousin Ravindra Naik (32) were among those trapped inside. After he got the news of the breakthrough on Tuesday, but just before they were brought out, he said he would inform the family only when that happens. “Every time my parents call, they cry on the phone. On several occasions, I said they were going to be rescued the next day, but each time, something went wrong. I don’t want to give them another false hope,” said Aditya, who was also a worker on the tunnel along with his brother and cousin, but had gotten out before the collapse. They joined work on the tunnel six months ago. “Our bags are ready… After they are discharged from the hospital, we will go home,” he said.
According to sources, Jharkhand and Odisha are planning to bring back the rescued workers from their states by air, while Uttar Pradesh and other states will take a decision after the medical checkup is complete. The rescued workers include 15 from Jharkhand, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five each from Odisha and Bihar, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh.
Chaudhary from UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri has been staying at a camp near the tunnel for the last 12 days, eagerly awaiting the rescue of his son, Manjeet. With an injured finger and fading vision due to cataract, he had been both anxious and uncomfortable during his stay in Uttarkashi. However, on Tuesday, he looked a changed man – beaming and talkative.
“…Kahenge bas humko hamara paudha jo ek bacha tha mil gaya, isi ki ropai ab karna hai (When I meet my son I will say that I have found my surviving sapling, and now I have to nurture it)… These are the tears of happiness,” Chaudhary said just before the workers were brought out of the tunnel. Around two years ago, Chaudhary lost his elder son in a construction site accident in Mumbai. “I cannot lose my only surviving son,” he said, with Manjeet’s bag hanging from his shoulder. His own bag was kept on the ground. He had taken a loan of Rs 9,000 by mortgaging his wife’s jewellery before setting out for Uttarkashi. “When I get my son back, it will all be worth it,” he said. The family of Manik Talukdar from West Bengal have been following the rescue operation through the media, and also through updates from relatives who went to the site a few days ago.
“I cannot believe this, after so many days I will probably sleep today. Our nights have been restless. I saw his pictures and I couldn’t control my tears,” said Soma, his wife, after news of the rescue reached their village of Balrampur in Cooch Behar district. Manik’s relatives Gautam Chandra and Vinay have been at the site of the operation in Uttarkashi for the past few days. “We got the news around 11.30 am (on Tuesday) that only three metres of debris remain. It was a moment of pure joy, and took us a minute to absorb… From here, we will go to the hospital and then home. Our family is waiting for them desperately,” Gautam said. Lokhi Pakhira, the mother of Souvik Pakhira, another worker from West Bengal who was trapped in the tunnel, said: “I spoke to my son after 16 days – it was the toughest period of my life.
I was praying day and night for his well being…
I will always be thankful to everyone who was part of the rescue team.” She had been following the rescue operation from their family home in Hooghly.
