The kitchen, set up for the 40 trapped workers, was busy with preparations for dinner on Tuesday evening, news agency ANI reported. This came after the installation of a six-inch lifeline pipe meant to transport higher amounts of food. So far, a four-inch existing tube has been utilised to feed oxygen, dry fruits, and medications to the segment of the tunnel beyond the rubble from the collapsed portion of the Char Dham path in Uttarakhand, which is still under construction.
The owner of the hotel where food for the trapped people was prepared, Abhishek Ramola stated that they are making rice and paneer under the supervision of the doctor today. Speaking with ANI, Ramola stated: "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."
Talking about the prepared food items, cook Sanjeet Rana informed ANI that veg pulao has been prepared, and mattar paneer, and butter chapati are also among the options that will be sent as per the instructions given to them. "The food is less spicy and less oily," he added.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the most 'focused effort' of rescuers working at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site is the 'horizontal drilling' through the Auger machine to evacuate the 41 workers trapped for 10 days in the 2-km-built portion of the under-construction structure.
Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the NDMA, stated that efforts to rescue the trapped personnel are proceeding from five sides, but the best potential technique is horizontal drilling from the Silkyara end of the tunnel.
The 900 mm pipes will be driven in using horizontal drilling equipment, according to the rescue plan, to build an exit for the workers.
“The most focused effort is horizontal drilling through the Auger machine, which is being explored. It started working on November 16 and it has reached 21-22 metres,” he was quoted by ANI in its report.