The 5T Chairman informed them about the various measures taken by the government for the safety of the workers. State government officials and special teams camped at the site and are in regular touch with the rescue team. All the five Odia workers are safe, he said.

Pandian assured the kin of the trapped workers that the Chief Minister is aware of the developments and is taking regular updates regarding the safety of workers and rescue operation.

The rescue operation is underway and the trapped workers will soon return to their families.

The Odisha government has made arrangements to take the workers’ family members to Uttarkashi on the instructions of the Chief Minister. The are Phulachand Bhatra of Nabarangpur district, Bimala Nayak of Mayurbhanj district and Chittaranjan Nayak of Mayurbhanj district.

The families of two others have already reached Uttarakashi. It will enable the stranded workers to meet their families after rescue.

Notably, 41 workers including five from Odisha have been trapped in an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi for 13 days. The Odia workers are – Tapan Mandal of Bhadrak district, Bhagaban Bhatra of Nabarangpur and Bisheshwar Nayak, Saman Nayak and Raju Nayak of Mayurbhanj.