Forty-one construction workers emerged jubilant and relieved late Tuesday from a collapsed Indian tunnel where they had been trapped for the past 17 days — a positive conclusion to a harrowing ordeal that captivated India and required an extensive rescue operation overcoming numerous challenges.
Local residents, relatives, and government officials erupted in celebration, lighting firecrackers and chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” — an expression of allegiance to Mother India — as the workers, visibly elated, walked out after undergoing a brief medical checkup. Garlands were draped around their necks by officials amidst the cheering crowd.
Nitin Gadkari, India’s Minister of Road Transport and Highways, expressed his immense relief in a video shared on the social media platform X, commending the successful rescue operation at the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi, located in the northern state of Uttarakhand.
Gadkari praised the collaborative efforts of multiple agencies, hailing it as one of the most significant rescue operations in recent memory.
The collapse occurred when a landslide struck a section of the 2.8-mile tunnel, approximately 220 yards from its entrance, on the morning of November 12. Fortunately, no serious injuries or fatalities were reported among the workers, who were concluding their shifts, many anticipating the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, that day.
Despite being trapped, the workers had light within the tunnel and received sustenance, water, and oxygen through pipes early on in their ordeal. A team of over a dozen doctors, including psychiatrists, monitored their health throughout.
All 41 workers emerged from the incident in good health after undergoing checkups at a makeshift medical camp near the tunnel entrance before being transported in ambulances.
Initially anticipated to be a brief and uncomplicated rescue operation, setbacks prolonged the process, trapping the workers for over two weeks. In the final stages, a team of about a dozen rescuers persevered through the night, using handheld drilling tools to clear rocks and debris.
The rescue efforts faced a setback when the machine being used broke down on Friday, prompting rescuers to resort to manual digging. Despite the challenges, they successfully extracted each worker one by one on a wheeled stretcher through a narrow tunnel created with welded pipes.
Devender, one of the rescuers, shared with New Delhi Television that the trapped workers were overjoyed upon spotting them, with some rushing to express their gratitude.
Most of the workers hailed from various parts of the country, with their families camping at the site in hopeful anticipation of their rescue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally spoke with some of the rescued workers, commending their courage and patience. He lauded the entire rescue team, stating that their collective efforts set an exemplary standard of humanity and teamwork.
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The tunnel, part of the Chardham all-weather road project, connects various Hindu pilgrimage sites. However, concerns persist among experts who argue that such initiatives may worsen the delicate conditions in the upper Himalayas, where towns are situated atop landslide-prone areas. The Chardham project is a flagship initiative of the federal government, aiming to enhance accessibility to these religious sites despite the challenging terrain.