Desperate to meet their kin trapped inside Uttarakhand tunnel, families keep hopes pinned for success of rescue operations

Families of trapped workers in Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand hope for their safe return. Rajni Kisku, Bonu Naik and Choudhary Lal are among those waiting anxiously. They are desperate to hear from their loved ones and hope to reunite soon. Families pray for safe return of trapped workers in Silkyara tunnel, desperate to hear from their loved ones and reunite soon.

Rajni Kisku from Bihar’s Banka district could not hold her tears when she, on November 21, was made to speak to her husband Virender Kisku who is one among the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district. The couple, who were hearing from each other after 11 days, asked about each other’s health. The husband, who tried his best to sound strong, told his wife that he will be out soon.

Talking to The Hindu, Ms. Rajni said that she had lost hopes that she will ever be able to hear from Mr. Virender.

“He asked about my health, our children’s studies and if the our parents are fine or not. He was trying to sound strong but I could feel that even he is desperate to come out,” said Rajni who reached Uttarkashi later last week.

Since the day she landed in Silkyara along with her brother-in-law, she spends the entire day sitting outside the tunnel in hope that her husband will come out of the tunnel in good shape.

She has not told her four children — three daughters and a son — about the situation of their father so that their studies do not get hampered.

Also read: ‘Canopy’ solution to restart drilling in Uttarkashi tunnel rescue, says Highways Secretary 

Similar is the desperation of Bonu Naik, the brother of Mahadev Naik who is trapped inside the tunnel. Mr. Bonu had travelled from his village in Jharkhand along with his maternal uncle, to see the progress of rescue operations and speak to his brother once, through the pipes installed at the site.