LIVE | Silkyara tunnel collapse: All 41 trapped workers rescued; PM Modi salutes their courage
The breakthrough came after rat-miners, who were brought in on Monday evening, manually dug the last stretch.
Finally, that most-awaited moment has arrived.
All 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand were rescued have been rescued.
Rescue workers pulled out all 41 workers late Tuesday (November 28) in a multi-agency rescue operation that hovered between hope and despair for almost 17 days.
Union Minister V K Singh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the workers as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) men brought them out through a steel chute that lined a 60-metre passage.
An ambulance with the first of the 41 workers left the mouth of the tunnel around 8 pm, about an hour after a group of rat-hole mining experts dug through the last stretch of rubble.
There was hugging and cheers as the ordeal ended. Outside the tunnel, some people chanted “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.Ambulances which had lined up at the tunnel ferried the workers to a community health centre where a special 41-bed ward had been set up.
Before this, the workers were given a quick medical checkup as they emerged from the steel pipe. CM Dhami said no worker was in a critical situation. But the labourers will be kept under medical observation for some time before being sent home, he said. He said the youngest of the worker was rescued first.
A portion of the tunnel on the Char Dham route collapsed on November 12, blocking the exit of the workers who were inside. Food, medicines and other essentials were sent to them through a six-inch pipe pushed through the rubble of the collapsed portion.
Over the phone, Jharkhand’s Sunil, who was camping in Silkyara, spoke to PTI on the rescue of his brother Anil.
"Finally, God heard us. My brother could be rescued. I am with him in an ambulance on the way to hospital," he said in a choked voice.
As the rescue appeared imminent earlier in the day, families stationed in Silkyara were allowed inside the tunnel with their belongings – so that they could travel with their loved ones to the medical centre.
PM lauds workers' courage
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the relief workers. “Everyone involved in the mission has created an amazing example of humanity and teamwork," he posted on X.
"It is a matter of great satisfaction that these friends of ours will meet their dear ones after a long wait," he added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he saluted the grit of the trapped workers for facing such a challenging situation for so long.
The experience of rat-hole miners were used in the rescue operation to save the 41 workers
No one critical, says Dhami
Labourers rescued wll be kept under medical observation before being sent home, says Uttarakhand CM Dhami.
Relieved and happy says Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said he is "relieved and happy" as all 41 trapped workers have been rescued.
"I am completely relieved and happy as 41 trapped laborers in the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse have been successfully rescued," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a post on X.
"This was a well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies, marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years. Various departments and agencies complemented each other despite facing numerous challenges," Gadkari said.
He expressed gratitude to each agency and individual involved in this rescue operation as well as deep appreciation for the international rescue experts, administrative officers, and the Uttarakhand government for their swift and effective response.
Medical staff with beds and other essentials on standby inside the Silkyara tunnel during the rescue operation of the 41 workers trapped inside the under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand. | Photo: PTI
"Have rushed a team to Uttarkashi for helping our people. The team, led by Rajdeep Dutta, Liaison Officer, Office of Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, will help evacuation and safe return of the trapped workers in the tunnel at Silkyara, Uttarkashi to their homes in West Bengal," tweets West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), Member, NDMA, says "We are at 58 metres and the sounds of drilling and digging are being heard on the other side. It is the last mile of the operation where the rat miners have gone in along with the Army, NDRF and other agencies. It is because of their efforts that 10 metres have been achieved in the last 24 hours..."
On Silkyara tunnel rescue mission, Vishal Chauhan, Member, NHAI, says," NHAI has again started the work of audit of all tunnels. We are working on this with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and one other agency."