Father of Uttarakhand Tunnel Worker Passes Away Just Hours Before Dramatic Rescue; Family Expresses Deep Anxiety

A tragic incident occurred in Uttarakhand, where a 70-year-old man from Jharkhand passed away just hours before his son was rescued from the collapsed Silkyara tunnel. The family believes that Baset alias Barsa Murmu died of anxiety due to his concern for his son’s safety. Murmu had been anxious since hearing about the tunnel collapse on November 12. He died around 8 am on Tuesday, 12 hours before his son, Bhaktu, was rescued.

Local government officials have yet to confirm the cause of Murmu’s death, although it is suspected to be a heart attack. Since the incident, Bhaktu’s mother, Piti Murmu, has been in a state of shock and has stopped speaking. Murmu’s son-in-law, Thakar Hansda, witnessed the septuagenarian’s sudden death and stated that he fell from his cot while expressing concern for his son.

The family members revealed that Murmu anxiously awaited news about his son’s rescue. The Civil Surgeon of East Singhbhum, Dr. Jujhar Manjhi, confirmed that they had received information about the death but were still awaiting the medical report.

Bhaktu, along with 14 other workers from Jharkhand, is currently recovering at AIIMS Rishikesh. The Uttarakhand government is closely monitoring their health, and once they are discharged from the hospital, they will be airlifted to Ranchi. The workers will be kept under observation at AIIMS Rishikesh for 24 hours before being transported to Dehradun and then to New Delhi, from where they will fly to Ranchi.

A team from the Jharkhand government had already reached Uttarkashi shortly after the tunnel collapse. The rescue operation concluded successfully on Tuesday night, freeing all 41 trapped workers. The tunnel collapse occurred on November 12, blocking the exit for the workers inside. However, they were provided with food, medicine, and other essentials through a pipe pushed through the debris.

It is a heartbreaking incident that highlights the emotional toll and the human cost of such disasters. The family is mourning the loss of Murmu, who passed away with the anxiety and hope for his son’s safety still weighing heavily on his heart.