As rescue operations at the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse site entered day 10, all the trapped workers on Tuesday received their first full-fledged cooked meal through the six-inch-wide lifeline pipe, which was drilled a day back.
According to ANI, the 41 trapped workers, who are said to be in a healthy state, were given veg pulao, butter chapati and matar paneer for dinner on Tuesday night. It is believed to be their first proper meal in over 9 days since they have been stranded inside the rubble.
#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Sanjeet Rana, a cook says, "We have cooked veg pulao, mattar paneer, and butter chapati for the people trapped inside. We have packed the food in an accurate portion. The food is less spicy and less oily…" pic.twitter.com/aW6qq3Heyf— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2023
“We have cooked veg pulao, mattar paneer, and butter chapati for the people trapped inside. We have packed the food in an accurate portion. The food is less spicy and less oily,” said Sanjeet Rana, the cook who prepared the meal for the trapped workers.
Rana said that he received instructions from the authorities to prepare healthy food with less spice and oil keeping in mind their digestive and health condition.
Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse LIVE: Specialist Equipment Airlfited to Rescue Site; NDMA Says Workers Getting Sufficient Oxygen, Water
Another cook, who was part of the team said that they prepared around 150 packets with a decent portion of paneer, pulao and 2 chapatis each for the trapped workers.
“We have cooked food for the people trapped inside. We are giving rice and paneer today in the food. We have made around 150 packets for them. All items have been prepared under the supervision of the doctor. We have given all easy-to-digest food,” one of the cooks told ANI.
#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | A cook says, "We have cooked food for the people trapped inside. We are giving rice and paneer today in the food. We have made around 150 packets for them. All items have been prepared under the supervision of the doctor…We have… pic.twitter.com/wKXdu90Ku8— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2023
How Was The Food Transferred to The Workers
The food was transferred through the 6-inch food pipeline, which was laid on Monday and became fully functional this morning. So far, it has facilitated the successful delivery of essential sustenance, including 5-10 kgs of various fruits such as apples, oranges, sweet lime, and 5 dozen bananas.
“About 5-10 kg each of different fruits like apples, oranges, sweet lime etc and 5 dozen bananas have been successfully delivered inside,” the statement said. According to the statement, preparations are now afoot to send cooked food like Khichdi, Roti-Sabzi etc.
In addition, packets of medicine, salt and electrol have also been sent.
Earlier on Monday, the tapped workers got their first hot meal, Khichdi, stored in a bottle, hours after an alternative six-inch lifeline pipe reached the Silkyara tunnel.
Meanwhile, top NDMA experts on Tuesday briefed the country about the rescue operation underway at the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site adding that all the 41 workers trapped inside are in good shape and are getting sufficient oxygen, water and food.
The rescue team also received the first visuals of trapped workers captured using an endoscopic camera sent in through a 6-inch pipeline.
Rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing since portions of the tunnel collapsed following a landslide early on November 12, leaving the workers trapped behind a huge mound of debris.