Tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand: Trapped Odia sends message ‘All are safe and fine’

Amid the ongoing rescue operation for 40 labourers stuck in a tunnel in Uttarakhand, the first message, from one of the 5 Odias among the trapped workers, was received on Thursday. Dhiren Nayak of Mayurbhanj sent this audio message to his family, claiming that they are safe. 

While speaking to one of his relatives through a tube at the tunnel, Dhiren said that almost all of them inside the tunnel are fine, barring a few who are slightly indisposed. “Our confidence is high. We are fine. We are recording a video which will be sent soon,” he said. 

Meanwhile, one of the other trapped Odisha labourer's family is in distress. As per reports, Bhagban Bhatra is a resident of Talabeda under the Dabugaon block of Nabarangpur. According to his family, Bhagban left for Uttarakhand one and a half years ago in search of livelihood. But the family was not aware that Bhagban was among the 40 labourers stuck inside the tunnel till yesterday. Dambaru Bhatra, who was with Bhagban in Uttarakhand, informed his family over the telephone on Wednesday. 

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On learning about the problem, the family is worried and appealed to the administration to rescue him. Satyabrata Bhatra, the elder brother of Bhagban said, “I got the news yesterday about my brother being struck inside the tunnel after Bhagwan’s friend told me over the telephone.”

Kumari Bhatra, the sister-in-law of Bhagban, appealed to the state government to take immediate steps for his rescue from the tunnel.   

On November 12, a portion of an under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway caved in trapping 40 labourers.