Father trapped inside Uttarkashi tunnel, son gets a word in: ‘He told me they are doing okay’

Akash managed to communicate with his father using a walkie-talkie. During the conversation, Gabbar reassured him about their well being and told him they were in continuous communication with the rescue team.

“He mentioned that they are doing well and receiving regular food packets. After our conversation, I immediately contacted my mother, who was deeply concerned,” Akash said.

Maharaj, however, is more sceptical of the rescue efforts. “We have been waiting anxiously. We’ve spoken with company officials and workers who have assured us that essential supplies like food, water and medicines are regularly reaching them,” he told The Indian Express. “But the administration’s efforts are only partially satisfactory. More than 60 hours have passed… We are unable to gain access inside (the tunnel) and are unaware of the steps being taken by the administration. Some people are saying they will be out in a few hours, others say it might take days.”

In faraway Jharkhand – of the 40 trapped men, 15 are from the state – 22-year-old Mahadev Nayak’s family has pinned their hopes on an audio recording sent to them from the site of the tunnel collapse. The recording contains Mahadev’s muffled voice from inside the tunnel – he can be heard speaking in Odia to a friend, who is outside, saying that he is safe.

Nayak hails from Chelabeda village in West Singhbhum district, and his family is yet to come to terms with the news they received on Diwali.

His brother Bonu Nayak, who runs a grocery store, said the family was deeply distressed till they received the recording at 6 pm on Monday.

“My mother broke down… said that her son is safe. There was a sigh of relief, we cannot thank god enough,” he said, adding that his brother left for this job three months ago. Bonu and Mahadev have three younger sisters and ageing parents. “My father retired as a fourth grade employee from BSNL, and though he receives pension, Mahadev’s money is a useful addition.”

“I received a call from the Jharkhand State Migrant Control Room on Tuesday morning and they assured us of all help,” he said.

The Jharkhand government has sent a three-member team that reached the collapse site at 5.30 pm on Tuesday. Its member, Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh, told The Indian Express: “Through iron pipes inserted in the collapsed tunnel via the ventilations shaft, we spoke to Vishwajit Kumar Verma and Subodh Kumar Verma from Giridih district, and we assured them and all other trapped workers from Jharkhand that the government is with them and will take them home safely with us.”

He said the disaster management team in Uttarkashi had informed them that all workers are safe. “Food and water is being supplied and they have a strategy to safely evacuate them. Our State Migrant Control Room is continuously talking to the family members.”

Back in Giridih, Vishwajit Verma’s son Rishi Kumar, a student of class 11, is holding his family together. “Along with my father, my cousin is trapped too. We spent Diwali in shock; we will rejoice once my father is back.”

His uncle, who stays in Rishikesh, travelled to the site on Monday. “My father works as a pump operator and his phone has not been reachable since Sunday morning. I have two younger sisters and I am trying to calm them down,” Rishi said.