From Darkness to Light

Dehradun, Nov 28: After 17 days of mega operation, all the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi were safely extricated on Tuesday evening.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was present at the site, where multiple ambulances and medical teams were kept ready for the trapped workers.

As soon as the workers were pulled out of the under-construction tunnel, a part of which had collapsed on November 12, they were rushed to the hospital in ambulances.
Rat-hole mining was started on Monday evening as rescue efforts to reach the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel entered its 16th day.

The relief and rescue work is being carried out by international experts, NDRF, SDRF, Army and BRO, among others.
Nearing breakthrough: 58m debris removed, pipe pushed for Silkyara tunnel rescue, says NDMA.

Soon after the rescue was completed, President Droupadi Murmu tweeted: "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 to them for building critical infrastructure, even at great personal risk, far away from their homes. I congratulate the teams and all experts who have acted with incredible grit and determination to perform one of the most difficult rescue missions in history".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the success of the rescue operation to bring out 41 trapped workers from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel is making everyone emotional and hailed the courage of the workers as an inspiration to others.

The Prime Minister also congratulated the multiple people engaged in the rescue operation for their bravery and determination to bring out all trapped workers safely.
"The success of the rescue operation of our labor brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience is inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health," Modi wrote on X.

He said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones.
He said that 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. The 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," Modi said.

The remarks from the Prime Minister came after all the 41 trapped workers at the Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel were pulled out safely on Tuesday evening after 17 days of mega multiple agency operation.
The Prime Minister has been taking regular updates from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on the rescue operation.

Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that he was relieved as all the 41 trapped workers from the under-construction Silkyara tunnel were rescued safely.
He said that it was a well coordinated effort by multiple agencies marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years.

"I am completely relieved and happy as 41 trapped laborers in the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse have been successfully rescued," he wrote on X.
"This was a well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies, marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years."

The minister pointed out that various departments and agencies complemented each other despite facing numerous challenges.
"Tireless and sincere efforts by everyone, coupled with prayers from all, have made this operation possible. The dedicated endeavors of the rescue teams have yielded favorable results.

“I express gratitude to each agency and individual involved in this rescue operation. Deep appreciation for the international rescue experts, administrative officers, and the Uttarakhand government for their swift and effective response," Gadkari said.

"I take this opportunity to thank Prime M Narendra Modi, who has been constantly monitoring the entire operation and providing guidance and support whenever required.
“CM Uttarakhand Pushkar Dhami and my colleague Gen V.K Singh almost camped there during the operation. Last but not least, I thank the officers and engineers of MoRTH for their sincere efforts," Gadkari said.

NDMA has earlier today said that the rescue operation in Silkyara tunnel is "near a breakthrough", but not yet there as rat miners and Army engineers have been able to cut through 58 metres of debris and pushed in pipe with the help of an auger machine.

The NDMA also said that it will take at least three to four hours more to bring out the 41 workers, who have been trapped inside the under-construction tunnel for the past 17 days.
Addressing a press conference here, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member, NDMA, said, "It is estimated that it will take three to five minutes to evacuate each of the 41 persons."

He said the entire evacuation process is expected to take three to four hours, adding that three teams of NDRF will go in inside the tunnel to organise the evacuation while the SDRF will provide support.
Hasnain said that paramedics will also go inside the tunnel at the time of evacuation.

"We are at 58 metres inside and we are hoping that after two metres, we can say that it has passed through," he said.
He also pointed out that the trapped workers have said they can hear noise of work being done and an estimate can be made where the pipe will pass through.
"We are near a breakthrough, but not yet there. Our rat miners, experts and Army engineers have been able to take it to 58 metres and the pipe has been pushed with the help the auger machine," the NDMA member
said.

He also said that all safety precautions will be implemented and no premature announcements are to be made, as that will be against all principles.
"We also have to take care of the safety and security of the people who are rescuing the workers... We are not in a hurry," he added.

Elaborating further, Hasnain said, "Chinook helicopter is present at the Chinyalisaur airstrip, but we will not fly it during the night. Since there is a delay, the workers will be brought the next morning."
He also said that a 30-bed facility set-up is ready in the district hospital, while a 10-bed facility is also ready at the site.

"If there is urgency, the workers can be taken to Rishikesh in ambulances," he said.
Meanwhile, Vishal Chauhan, Member of the National Highway Authority of India, said, "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."

Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had said that the work of laying pipes in the tunnel to take out the workers has been completed and soon all will be brought out. On November 12, a part of the under-construction tunnel had collapsed.