New Delhi: After a part of the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel collapsed, 41 laborers were trapped in it for 17 days. These laborers were rescued safely on Tuesday evening. Since the workers were rescued and trapped in a confined space without sunlight or fresh air, they have been kept under 24-hour medical observation at the Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre. A separate section of 41 beds has been set up in this hospital.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that further strategy will be decided on the basis of doctors’ recommendations. Dhami further said, ‘Since the stranded workers have just come out of a very unusual environment, they will be kept under observation and based on the recommendations of the doctors, we will decide further action.’
He confirmed that none of them have any medical problems and all are in good health. He further said that despite the availability of stretchers, no employee used them. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government announced financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to each rescued laborer. He said that ‘For each of our labor brothers, we have announced financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each from the Uttarakhand government.
We will hand over the check on Wednesday. We will also request NHIDCL to grant them 15 days paid leave so that they can go back to their homes.According to sources, Jharkhand and Odisha governments are planning to bring back the rescued workers from their states by air, while Uttar Pradesh and other governments will take a decision on this after the medical examination is completed.
The rescued workers include 15 from Jharkhand, 8 from Uttar Pradesh, 5 each from Odisha and Bihar, 3 from West Bengal, 2 each from Uttarakhand and Assam and 1 from Himachal Pradesh.