Men are coming home: Tunnel expert Arnold Dix says mission is to rescue all 41 trapped workers

After a video of 40 workers trapped in Uttarkashi’s Silkyara tunnel provided a sigh of relief, International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association President Arnold Dix said that he is certain that the workers will come home soon.

“It’s fantastic, of course, the news we have had over the last few hours. It is great to see the faces of those men that we are going to bring home. We have food going to them now, we have communications to them now. You have seen this morning that we have multiple approaches to the rescue,” Dix said.

Authorities released the first footage of the men trapped inside the tunnel on Monday, giving a new ray of hope to worried families and relatives. The visuals were taken using an endoscopic camera that was pushed inside the tunnel with the help of a six-inch pipe inserted through the debris.

Dix added, “We are going to rescue these men. 41 men are going to be coming home and no one is going to be hurt, that’s the mission…”

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue operation | International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, “It’s fantastic, of course, the news we have had over the last few hours. It is great to see the faces of those men that we are going to bring home. We have food going to… pic.twitter.com/t5f47dPgbu

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2023

#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

The collapse occurred on November 12 during the construction of a tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot, trapping 41 labourers after a muck fell in a 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel.

The workers are believed to be trapped in a 2 km-built tunnel portion, which is complete with concrete work that provides safety to the workers. This portion of the tunnel has access to electricity and water.

With inputs from agencies