Nearly eight days after three workers got trapped inside an under-construction tunnel, rescuers remain uncertain as to when they will be able to extricate at least two of them -- Satish and Mani Ram. Each passing hour is a test of nerve for the waiting family members of these workers. And a sense of despair has engulfed the loved ones of the third worker, Hridya Ram, whose fate remains uncertain.
Hridya Ram has two wives, Kubja Devi and Shashi Kala, and seven children. They are in a state of shock back at Chhakkar village in Mandi as its uncertain whether he is alive or dead.
“A video released by the district administration pictures only Satish and Mani Ram, but no one tells us about Hridya Ram,” rued his maternal uncle Rajiv and his father-in-law Jagdish Kumar, who are camping here since last Friday.
“Hridya Ram has seven children, three from Kubja Devi and four from Shashi Kala. Three of them are married, but two boys and two girls are dependent on him,” said Rajiv.
Hridya Ram talked to his wife on Saturday at 7.30, an hour before the tunnel caved-in. “Since then there is no contact with him as he was on night shift and went missing inside the tunnel,” said Rajiv.
“My daughter is in a state of shock ever since Hridya Ram went missing inside the tunnel on September 12. She has not eaten anything as the police and the company executing the project have not confirmed whether he is dead or alive even after eight days,” rued Jagdish. “They are not telling us about the progress of the rescue work and as and when the teams will take them out,” said Vinod Tomar, a family member of Satish. “The rescue team and the district administration are doing a good job but the rescue operation has been delayed,” he added.
Psychologist Dr Deepa from the zonal hospital, Bilaspur, counselled the family members.
On the other hand, both Satish and Mani Ram told the family members through a video while talking to Deputy Commissioner Manasi S Thakur that they should not be worried about them as they were alright. “But take us out soon. Do not just make promises,” Satish and Mani Ram told doctors. Satish and Mani Ram are tough workers and have done tunnelling work of Kol and Thein dams. “We have informed the family members about the progress of the rescue work and are with them in this hour of crisis,” said the Deputy Commissioner.
Hridya Ram has two wives, Kubja Devi and Shashi Kala, and seven children. They are in a state of shock back at Chhakkar village in Mandi as its uncertain whether he is alive or dead.
“A video released by the district administration pictures only Satish and Mani Ram, but no one tells us about Hridya Ram,” rued his maternal uncle Rajiv and his father-in-law Jagdish Kumar, who are camping here since last Friday.
“Hridya Ram has seven children, three from Kubja Devi and four from Shashi Kala. Three of them are married, but two boys and two girls are dependent on him,” said Rajiv.
Hridya Ram talked to his wife on Saturday at 7.30, an hour before the tunnel caved-in. “Since then there is no contact with him as he was on night shift and went missing inside the tunnel,” said Rajiv.
“My daughter is in a state of shock ever since Hridya Ram went missing inside the tunnel on September 12. She has not eaten anything as the police and the company executing the project have not confirmed whether he is dead or alive even after eight days,” rued Jagdish. “They are not telling us about the progress of the rescue work and as and when the teams will take them out,” said Vinod Tomar, a family member of Satish. “The rescue team and the district administration are doing a good job but the rescue operation has been delayed,” he added.
Psychologist Dr Deepa from the zonal hospital, Bilaspur, counselled the family members.
On the other hand, both Satish and Mani Ram told the family members through a video while talking to Deputy Commissioner Manasi S Thakur that they should not be worried about them as they were alright. “But take us out soon. Do not just make promises,” Satish and Mani Ram told doctors. Satish and Mani Ram are tough workers and have done tunnelling work of Kol and Thein dams. “We have informed the family members about the progress of the rescue work and are with them in this hour of crisis,” said the Deputy Commissioner.
