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Chaudhary has travelled to the site of the tunnel to be closer to his son, who is trapped inside

By Samira Hussain

Reporting from Uttarkashi

When Chaudhary realised his son Manjit was one of the 41 construction workers trapped in the collapsed tunnel, he travelled almost 600km (372 miles) from his village in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, to be closer to him.

Chaudhary, 50, has been at the tunnel site for the past 11 days. He is staying with men who know his son and is sleeping in barracks made for the labourers.

Two years ago, he lost his eldest son in a construction accident in Mumbai. He says he cannot face the grief of losing another son.

"I pray to God... please don't take this son away from me. All I want is that my son should be out. This is my prayer. This is my last wish."

A landslide near Silkyara, a remote village at the foothills of the Himalayas, collapsed a portion of the tunnel two weeks ago, trapping the workers. The rescue has been delayed by a drilling machine breaking down.

Chaudhary, who goes by only one name, is one of several family members who have travelled here.