Authorities credit proper coordination for successful rescue of trapped workers in Silkyara tunnel
Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], November 29- The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) authorities have attributed the success of the rescue operation in the Silkyara tunnel to proper coordination among various agencies involved. After an intense 17-day effort, the 41 trapped workers were safely brought out on Tuesday, prompting NDRF Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahidi to acknowledge the challenge of the operation and highlight the necessity of coordination.
This was one of the biggest operations in the history of our nation, said Suresh Kumar Daral, an NDRF official, emphasizing the significance of the rescue effort. He further praised the dedication and readiness of NDRF officers to face such challenges.
Manmohan Singh Rawat, an NDRF personnel who entered the tunnel, shared his experience and described the workers’ enthusiastic response upon seeing the NDRF team. As soon as I entered inside, all the 41 trapped workers shouted, ‘NDRF ki jai ho,’ and they were all extremely happy. It was a little difficult to enter inside, but we were trained very well, Rawat said.
Rawat also provided details of the operation, explaining that three people initially went inside, and later, SDRF rescuers joined them. The oldest worker was the first to be rescued, and it took approximately 1.5 hours to save all 41 workers. Sachin, another NDRF personnel, highlighted the unity among NDRF jawans during the operation and their efforts to boost the morale of the trapped workers.
The successful breakthrough occurred on Tuesday evening when all 41 workers were finally brought out of the Silkyara tunnel. Local residents celebrated at the tunnel site, exchanging sweets in jubilation as the trapped workers saw light at the end of the tunnel.
Union Minister of State General (Retd) VK Singh and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also met the rescued men, acknowledging their resilience after enduring 17 days of ordeal.
On November 12, a section of the tunnel collapsed, leaving 41 workers trapped inside the structure that was still under construction. The rescue operation involved multiple agencies and was considered one of the most significant and challenging missions in the history of India.
