Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: PM Modi speaks to CM Dhami after evacuation of 41 workers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to rescued workers after they were successfully rescued from the collapsed tunnel after 17 days.

"We evacuated all the workers that were trapped inside. After entering inside, we tried to boost their morale. All NDRF jawans were present there...," said NDRF personnel Sachin.

During the rescue operations, one of the workers showed a victory sign while he was being rescued from the collapsed tunnel.

"Congratulations to everyone, including the Government of Uttarakhand on the success of the rescue operation conducted under the guidance of respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ji to safely rescue all the workers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand. Thank you to everyone who has made their invaluable contribution in saving the lives of labor brothers!," UP CM Yogi Adityanath posted on X.

Prime Minister Modi called and congratulated Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami after the successful evacuation of the trapped workers. The Prime Minister enquired about the CM about the arrangements and the health of the workers. 

Locals gathered at Silkyara tunnel site shout slogans - 'Modi hai to mumkin hai' after the successful evacuation of all 41 trapped workers. 

"It is great news for the nation that all our 41 Shramik brothers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarkashi have been rescued safe and sound. Nation salutes their grit in facing such a challenging situation in the tunnel for so long. My heartfelt gratitude to all the people and the agencies that have made tireless efforts to save the lives of our fellow citizens," said Home Minister Amit Shah.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami oversaw as workers who were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel are being taken to Hospital in ambulances.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, "I am completely relieved and happy as 41 trapped laborers in the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse have been successfully rescued..."

All evacuated workers were taken to a makeshift hospital after successful rescue operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and took an update on the rescue efforts of trapped workers from the Uttarkashi tunnel.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister termed the rescue operation an amazing example of humanity and teamwork.

All 41 trapped workers were rescued after 17 days.

A total 35 workers came out so far from the collapsed tunnel.

33 workers so far rescued by the NDRF team.

"The work of evacuating the labor brothers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel has started. So far 8 workers have been rescued. Initial health checkup of all the workers is being done in the temporary medical camp built in the tunnel," CM Dhami posted on X.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the workers who were rescued from inside the Silkyara tunnel.

12 workers were rescued from the collapsed tunnel after 17 days.

Ten trapped workers were rescued after 17 days. 

Five workers among the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand since November 12 have been successfully rescued. Currently, all the labourers are in the safety tunnel inside the Silkyara tunnel.

According to reports, the second trapped worker was rescued from the collapsed tunnel.

The 16-day-long wait finally ended as the first trapped worker was rescued in a major breakthrough.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrived at the site of Silkyara tunnel rescue.

 A 5-member NDRF team entered into the tunnel. Trapped workers will be brought out in a group of 4 persons.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami leaves from Silkyara tunnel rescue site. The operation to evacuate 41 trapped labourers is in the final stage.

Reliance Jio, the nation's biggest mobile telephony operator, has set up mobile infrastructure near the collapsed tunnel in the Himalayas within 12 hours to provide voice and data services to aid the rescue of 41 construction workers.

As the rescue operations enter final stage, sweets being distributed among the family members of Anil Bedia in Ranchi, one of the workers who is trapped in the Silkyara tunnel

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Member, NDMA, said "All safety precautions will be implemented. No premature announcements are to be made, it will be against all principles. We also have to take care of the safety and security of the people who are rescuing the wrokers...We are not in any hurry..."

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Member, NDMA, said "We are at 58 metres, we are hoping that after 2 metres, we can say that it has passed through. The trapped workers inside have said they can hear noises of work being done and an estimate can be made where the tunnel will pass through..."

Arrangement of oxygen cylinders, and medicines in the medical camp near Silkyara Tunnel of Uttarkashi. The trapped workers will be checked in the tunnel itself before they were brought out.

Chinook helicopter is present at Chinyalisaur airstrip to airlift the workers after their rescue from the Silkyara tunnel.

An NDRF team reached trapped workers and set up a temporary hospital inside the tunnel for medical check-ups before they were taken out.

A resident of Khirabera village, Ranchi and mother of a worker who is trapped in the Silkyara tunnel said, "It has been 17 days since my son has been trapped. I will be happy when my son arrives I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes..."

Garlands were brought to the Silkyara tunnel rescue site in anticipation of the early rescue of 41 trapped workers.

As trapped labourers are expected to come out by the evening, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the tunnel to oversee the final moments preparations. 

"As a result of the immense grace of Baba Baukh Nag Ji, prayers of crores of countrymen and the tireless work of all the rescue teams engaged in the rescue operation, the work of laying pipes in the tunnel to take out the workers has been completed. Soon all the labour brothers will be taken out," Dhami tweeted.

NDRF, SDRF and several other agencies continue to be at the spot.

Mahmood Ahmad, the MD of National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said one more pipe has to be welded today. "We will then take out the muck and push the pipe in. Welding takes 1-2 hours..." he added. 

Tunnelling expert Chris Cooper said that the rescue operation is likely to be completed before 5 pm today. Meanwhile, mattresses and stretchers have been sent inside the tunnel. Apart from this, an ambulance has also been sent inside the tunnel. 

Trapped labourers are expected to come out in the next 3 hours. The pipe has been laid up to a depth of 55.3 metres. Now only 3 meters of manual drilling is left.

Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper said that the mining activity is still going on at the rescue site. "We are still mining. We have got a couple of more metres to go...We are expecting to see some results by 5 pm. 2-3 metres are left," he added. 

The vertical drilling on the hill has been stopped for the time being. Manual drilling is going on successfully inside the tunnel and to ensure that there is no hindrance in the drilling work below, vertical drilling has been stopped. Meanwhile, the process of changing machines in vertical drilling is being completed.

VISUALS FROM INSIDE THE TUNNEL: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and took stock of the ongoing rescue operations. He said that along with the safety of the workers trapped inside, special care should also be taken for the safety of the people engaged in relief work outside. He said that the families of the workers trapped inside should not face any kind of problem. The Prime Minister also discussed the upcoming strategy. 

The relatives of the trapped workers have been asked to be prepared and keep the clothes and bags of the workers ready. According to officials, the workers will be taken to Chinyalisaur Hospital after being rescued and brought out.

At least 43 metres of vertical drilling for the 1.2-metre diameter pipe from the top of the hill has been completed. According to the information, it can take another 40-50 hours to complete the remaining work. 78 metres of vertical drilling for the 8 mm diameter pipe from the top of the hill has also been completed. Further drilling has been temporarily halted as there was a minor issue in the pipeline. Manual drilling is underway smoothly, inside the tunnel.

Speaking to reporters at the rescue site, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said engineers, experts and others are working with all their strength. "As of now, pipe has gone 52 metres in. The manner in which the work is ongoing, we hope that there will be a breakthrough very soon. As soon as the pipe goes through, the process of bringing out them (workers) will begin. Everyone is fine," he added. 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the Silkyara tunnel where the operation to rescue 41 trapped workers is underway. The central government has also been continuously taking stock of the rescue operations. 

Amid ongoing rescue operations to extract the trapped workers, a yellow alert for rain has also been issued in Uttarakhand. According to the India Meteorological Department, several areas in the hilly state are likely to receive rainfall today. 

Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper said that the rescue operation was carried out very well last night. "We have crossed 50 metres. It's now about 5-6 metres to go...We didn't have any obstacles last night. It is looking very positive..." he added.

Visuals have surfaced from the Silkyara tunnel where the operation to rescue 41 workers is ongoing. Visuals depict ongoing manual drilling inside the rescue tunnel.

As the rescue operation has reached Day 17, manual drilling continues after the debris of the American Auger machine is removed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that nature is constantly throwing challenges towards the rescue operation, underway to bring the trapped men out. Stating the efforts are in full swing by different agencies, the Prime Minister also people to pray for trapped workers to get out safely and as soon as possible.