End of an ordeal as all 41 workers, trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel, pulled out to freedom

Teaming up with Army, manual drillers from UP burrowed through remaining 10-12 metres of rubble

No worker critical; but all will be kept under medical observation for some time before being sent home

UTTARKASHI: Rescue workers pulled out all 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel in a multi-agency rescue operation that hovered between hope and despair for almost 17 days.

Instead of being brought out on wheeled stretchers through a steel tube that lined the 60-metre rescue shaft, the labourers crawled out of it, according to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

He and Union Minister VK Singh welcomed the workers as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) men helped them in getting out safely.

An ambulance with the first of the 41 workers left the mouth of the tunnel around 8 pm, about an hour after rat-hole mining experts dug through the last stretch of rubble. There was hugging and cheers as the ordeal ended. Some local villagers burst crackers. Outside the tunnel, some chanted “Har Har Mahadev”, “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, and slogans in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dhami.

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 inside the tunnel.

CM Dhami said no worker was in a critical condition. But they will be kept under medical observation for some time before being sent home, he said.

He said the youngest of the workers was rescued first. A portion of the under-construction on Uttarakhand’s 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 debris. Relief was felt far and wide over the safe evacuation.

Jharkhand’s Sunil, who was camping in Silkyara, spoke to PTI on the phone after 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 the 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.

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.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he saluted the grit of the trapped workers for facing such a challenging situation for so long. The final challenge in the rescue operation was tackled by a group of men versed in the technique of rat-hole mining.