In a dramatic and daring operation that spanned 17 anxiety-filled days, 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel were successfully rescued. The final breakthrough occurred on Tuesday, as twelve resilient “rat-hole miners” painstakingly navigated through a barrier of rock, mud, and debris with handheld tools.
After the rescue on Tuesday evening, the workers underwent initial medical observation at a hospital in Chinyalisaur. Subsequently, they were airlifted to AIIMS-Rishikesh in a Chinook helicopter on Wednesday afternoon.
Dehradun district magistrate Sonika conveyed, “All the workers have been brought to the wards. Medical protocols are being followed. All the workers are being examined, and they are under observation.”
Officials at AIIMS-Rishikesh informed that the workers would initially be placed in the trauma ward for primary assessments before moving to the disaster ward for a detailed health examination.
Relatives of the workers were also transported to Rishikesh via buses, with the disaster ward equipped with 100 beds to accommodate them. AIIMS Rishikesh’s Executive Director & CEO, Meenu Singh, assured that the rescued workers were in normal health. “Their blood pressure, vitals, oxygenation – everything is normal,” Singh stated.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed relief, announcing a cash incentive of Rs. 50,000 for all personnel involved in the rescue operation and a financial aid of Rs. 1 lakh for each rescued worker.
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Anil Bediya, one of the rescued laborers, shared their harrowing tale of survival, mentioning how they initially subsisted on ‘muri’ (puffed rice) and water dripping from rocks.
Tragically, in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district, the father of one of the laborers passed away just hours before his son’s rescue from the Uttarkashi tunnel. Baset Murmu, 70, had eagerly awaited his son Bhaktu Murmu’s safe return but succumbed to a heart attack.
In a gesture of gratitude, Chief Minister Dhami met with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and announced rewards of Rs. 50,000 for each rat-hole mining expert involved in the rescue.
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The chief minister’s joy at the successful evacuation was evident when he remarked, “I am no less happy about their (workers) evacuation than their families. My Diwali, Igas, or Dev Deepavali came yesterday as they were evacuated.”
Post-evacuation, the workers were airlifted to AIIMS-Rishikesh, where they will undergo comprehensive health examinations, including mental health assessments. The disaster ward’s 100-bed capacity ensures that the workers receive thorough observation and care.
Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat provided reassurance about the workers’ well-being, stating, “Everything is fine. They will be kept here for medical examinations today and tomorrow. They will be sent back home as per the directions of the director of AIIMS, people in the health department, and doctors.”