Uttarakhand tunnel collapse rescue: India heaves sigh of relief, CM Dhami hands over relief cheques

It was a test of grit and perseverance for the rescue workers in an operation that lasted for over 400 hours to reach the worker who were trapped in the tunnel since November 12.

The successful rescue of the 41 workers trapped for the last 17 days inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand is a testament to the dedication and skill of the rescue teams involved. The operation highlighted the significance of collaboration, technology, and relentless efforts in overcoming challenging situations. The safe evacuation of the workers is undoubtedly a moment of relief for their families and the nation as a whole.

Also read:All workers rescued safely

Right after the rescue operations got over, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X, ““The success of the rescue operation of our workers is an emotional moment for everyone. To the workers who were trapped, I want to say that your courage and patience is inspiring. I wish you good health and wellbeing.” He termed the mission an “amazing example of humanity and teamwork”.

President Droupadi Murmu also took to X to express her relief and happiness. “…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,” she said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the rescue as “great news for the nation” and said the country salutes their grit in facing such a challenging situation for so long.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met and enquired about the health of rescued workers at Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre on November 29. He handed over relief cheques to them. The state government provided a financial assistance of Rs1 lakh to each of the 41 workers.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari praised the “well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies”. “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,” he said.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the whole country was keeping an eye on this operation. “The entire country has heaved a sigh of relief with its success. This is a moment of joy for the families of all labourers,” he posted on X.

Former cricketer VVS Laxman also expressed gratitude to all the people who were behind the Uttarkashi tunnel operation. The former cricket commentator posted on X. “Faith can move mountains, and faith along with dedication and perseverance can pierce through mountains. I bow down in gratitude to all the incredible people involved in rescuing the 41 trapped workers in Uttarakhand. Gratitude to all these wonderful men,” he said.

Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik alsoreated a sand art at Puri beach to salute the efforts of the rescue team. The 5ft sand sculpture showed a tunnel where workers were trapped with a message "Salute to Our Rescue Team."

Salute to Our Rescue Team who worked tirelessly to make this difficult rescue operation successful. . #UttarakhandRescue #Uttarakhand #UttarakhandTunnel .
My SandArt at Puri beach. pic.twitter.com/vc0rarRCNK

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) November 28, 2023

On the other hand, Mahindra Group chairperson Anand Mahindra hailed the efforts of “rathole miners”. “"And after all the sophisticated drilling equipment, it’s the humble ‘rathole miners’ who make the vital breakthrough! It’s a heartwarming reminder that at the end of the day, heroism is most often a case of individual effort & sacrifice,” he posted on X.

Industrial leaders such as Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, RPG Group's Harsh Goenka and Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw also took to X to express their relief.