In a heartwarming turn of events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally connected with the workers who were recently rescued from the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi, expressing his admiration for their courage and patience. The operation, deemed a success after 17 intense days, witnessed a triumphant moment as the workers spoke to the Prime Minister over the phone from a room where they were gathered.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had lauded the rescue team’s commendable efforts in safely extricating the trapped workers from the tunnel, which is a vital part of the ambitious Char Dham project. The tunnel had collapsed on November 12, triggering a massive operation involving both central and state rescue teams.
Dubbed “The Final Op,” the rescue operation saw a breakthrough by skilled rat miners, who, after the failure of high-tech drilling machines, successfully cleared the last 12-meter stretch in less than 24 hours. The workers, trapped underground for over two weeks, were pulled out on stretchers in a meticulous operation that began around 8 pm.
Taking into consideration the workers’ well-being, the extraction process allowed each individual time to reacclimate to the surface conditions. Specially modified stretchers were employed, lowered manually through a two-meter-wide pipe drilled into the hillside. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was present at the site, embracing the workers as they emerged.
The emotional moment was met with jubilation as the rescued workers were welcomed with garlands, sweets, and cheers by the rescue personnel and onlookers. A fleet of 41 ambulances, one for each worker, transported them in batches to emergency medical facilities set up in Chinyalisaur, approximately 30 km away.
As the families of the trapped workers rejoiced at the long-awaited reunion, Prime Minister Modi, in a social media post, expressed his satisfaction, saying, “The success of the rescue operation of our 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 are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health.” The Prime Minister highlighted the unwavering patience and courage demonstrated by the families throughout this challenging time.
