‘Amazing example of humanity, teamwork’: India PM Modi lauds Uttarakhand tunnel rescue op

Tunnel rescue

#UttarakhandTunnelRescue, #IAF, #TunnelRescueOp, #Uttarkashi, #NDRF, #PMModi, #DroupadiMurmu, #AmitShah

New Delhi/IBNS-CMEDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday applauded the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation and said the success of this mission has set an amazing example of humanity and teamwork.

The mammoth rescue operation to evacuate the 41 trapped workers in the Silkyara tunnel came to an end Tuesday after a 17-day multi-agency drill. All 41 labourers were brought out of the tunnel in approximately an hour bringing a sigh of relief nationwide.

After several high-tech machines failed, the rescuers relied on the banned manual “rat-hole”-mining technique to drill through the nearly 60 metres of rock that threatened to bury the workers.

#Silkyara tunnel rescue operation enters final stage with 41 trapped workers being evacuated. #UttarkashiRescueUpdate #SilkyaraTunnelRescue pic.twitter.com/t6Ufh67HKz— India Blooms (@indiablooms) November 28, 2023

All the rescued workers have been taken to the make-shift hospital in Chinyalisaur for medical check-ups and acclimatisation to the temperature outside, which has dropped much over the last two weeks.

Lauding the effort, PM Modi tweeted: “The success of the rescue operation to evacuate our labourer brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to tell my friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health.”

“It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones. The patience and courage that all these families have shown in this challenging time cannot be appreciated enough.

“I also salute the spirit of all the people associated with this rescue operation. His bravery and determination have given new life to our labor brothers. Everyone involved in this mission has set an amazing example of humanity and teamwork,” PM Modi said in a long post.

उत्तरकाशी में हमारे श्रमिक भाइयों के रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन की सफलता हर किसी को भावुक कर देने वाली है।

टनल में जो साथी फंसे हुए थे, उनसे मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि आपका साहस और धैर्य हर किसी को प्रेरित कर रहा है। मैं आप सभी की कुशलता और उत्तम स्वास्थ्य की कामना करता हूं।

यह अत्यंत…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2023

President Droupadi Murmu said, “She is relieved and happy to learn that all the workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand have been rescued.”

“Their travails over 17 days, as the rescue effort met with obstacles, have been a testament of human endurance,” the President posted on X.

I feel relieved and happy to learn that all the workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand have been rescued. Their travails over 17 days, as the rescue effort met with obstacles, have been a testament of human endurance. The nation salutes their resilience and remains grateful…— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 28, 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “It is great news for the nation that all our 41 Shramik brothers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarkashi have been rescued safe and sound.”

“Nation salutes their grit in facing such a challenging situation in the tunnel for so long,” he posted on X.

It is great news for the nation that all our 41 Shramik brothers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarkashi have been rescued safe and sound.

Nation salutes their grit in facing such a challenging situation in the tunnel for so long.

My heartfelt gratitude to all the people and the…— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 28, 2023

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, said: “I am completely relieved and happy as 41 trapped laborers in the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse have been successfully rescued.”

I am completely relieved and happy as 41 trapped laborers in the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse have been successfully rescued.

This was a well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies, marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years. Various departments and…— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) November 28, 2023

Rat hole mining, a banned mining technique, made the rescue operation successful in clearing the last few meters after the operation was stalled after high-tech machines, or augers, failed to drill through the 60-meters of the collapsed portion.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had gone down the pipe first to assess the condition of the trapped men and guide them through rescue protocols.

Each worker was strapped to the stretcher that was then manually pulled up through 60 metres of rock and debris.