Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates: CM Dhami announces cash incentive for all involved in Silkyara rescue operation

16:13 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Australian envoy ‘delighted’ with successful Uttarkashi rescue operation

Australia’s High Commissioner to India Philip Green expressed relief and delight while talking to the media on the successful rescue operation which saw 41 trapped workers being evacuated from a collapsed Uttarkashi tunnel on Wednesday evening,

"The natural human reaction is to be relieved and delighted for these 41 workers and for all of their friends and other loved ones,” he said.

“We were all imagining how terrible it must have been in this appalling situation and their families wondering what their fates would be and how joyful we all feel and relieved that they are safe and sound & back in the arms of their loved ones."

16:06 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

PM Modi guided relief efforts: Union Minister

​Union Minister General (Retd) VK Singh said PM Narendra Modi guided the efforts to rescue the trapped workers from the Uttarkashi tunnel.

"It was a different operation in itself since workers were stuck so we had to rescue them. There were different options to reach there, some were used. The most important thing about this rescue was that PM Modi guided it entirely. It motivated the institutions, agencies and people working there and helped in coordination," he told the media.

15:58 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

They don't seem to be under any sort of mental stress, says Dr Narendra Kumar, Assistant Professor, Hospital Administration, AIIMS Rishikesh

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Doctor Narendra Kumar, Assistant Professor, Hospital Administration, AIIMS Rishikesh says, "They don't seem to be under any sort of mental stress. Still, we have teams of psychiatrists and doctors of internal medicine who will do… pic.twitter.com/P3cgJ0wshs— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

15:48 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

41 rescued workers, onboard the IAF Chinook helicopter, on their way to Rishikesh 

Uttarakhand | The 41 rescued workers from Uttarkashi tunnel, onboard the IAF Chinook helicopter, on their way to Rishikesh earlier today.

The chopper brought them to AIIMS Rishikesh from Chinyalisaur for their further medical examination. pic.twitter.com/9XiVv7eKgn— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

15:28 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘This was a mission of entire India’, says NDMA member Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain

VIDEO | "This was a mission of entire India," says NDMA member Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain as he lists out organisations and government bodies who were involved in the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation. pic.twitter.com/ILB6UMIHT6— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 29, 2023

15:25 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

'Am senior, will be last': Rescued tunnel worker Gabbar Singh's brave words

The 41 labourers liberated from the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel late Tuesday spent 17 days in an underground jail, a situation that was bound to test most people's willpower and need a strong leader to keep the guys calm. Gabbar Singh Negi, who was born 260 kilometres distant in the Pauri Garhwal area and had the sad distinction of having been in three collapsed tunnels, was that figure.

Negi taught his colleagues yoga and meditation throughout the 400+ hours they were buried - about 200 feet in the earth - and ensured they were physically and psychologically engaged by assuring them he would be the last to be rescued.

"'I am senior-most... I will be the last to come out...', this is what he told me," a smiling and visibly relieved Jaymal Singh Negi, his brother, told NDTV Wednesday morning, hours after all 41 men were extracted and given extensive medical check-ups to ensure they had suffered no injuries.

15:03 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Uttarakhand CM Dhami announces cash incentive for all personnel involved in Silkyara rescue operation

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has stated that all troops involved in the rescue effort within the Silkyara Tunnel would receive an incentive of Rs 50,000 apiece.

Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with the rescued Silkyara tunnel workers at Chinyalisaur Hospital on Wednesday and stated that the men had been thoroughly evaluated and were well.

14:57 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

PM watched live coverage of Uttarkashi workers being rescued, got emotional: Sources

When the Uttarkashi tunnel workers were evacuated late Tuesday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was intently following the whole evacuation operation. The Prime Minister, according to insiders, was watching the entire procedure live on television.

The whole cabinet, including the Prime Minister, was present throughout the rescue effort. After the safe evacuation of the trapped workers, the Prime Minister became emotional.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur stated that a cabinet discussion was taking place on Tuesday about 8 p.m. during the workers' evacuation, and that PM Modi was visibly moved as the workers emerged.

14:47 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘Work of patience, grit and perseverance’: Indian cricket fraternity reacts to Silkyara tunnel rescue

The Indian cricket fraternity took to social media to celebrate the rescue of all 41 trapped workers from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand.

Indian spin legend Anil Kumble took to X (formerly Twitter) and called the rescue act a work of "patience, grit and perseverance."

"A big shoutout to everyone involved in successfully and safely rescuing all the trapped workers in the Silkyara tunnel. Commendable work of patience, grit and perseverance. Happy for the families to be reunited with their loved ones. Wishing speedy recovery and rehabilitation of the rescued workers. #UttarakhandTunnelRescue," tweeted Kumble.

14:36 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘We fulfilled our commitment’ says specialist Rat Miner team as they celebrate successful rescue of 41 workers

When heavy gear failed to drill through the rubble that had buried 41 workers in the Silkyara tunnel, rescuers had to resort to rat-hole mining, a prohibited practise in the nation.

Rat hole mining is the excavation of very small tunnels into which expert personnel enter and retrieve coal or trash.

While recalling his recollections of the time when the miners' team spotted the workers, Rat Mining Rescue Team Leader Vakeel Hasan said it was like handing water to a thirsty person.

14:21 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Filmmakers rush to register titles on Uttarakhand Tunnel Operation

On Tuesday evening, after 16 days of strenuous efforts by different authorities, all 41 workers trapped within the tunnel in Uttarkashi were successfully evacuated.

According to News18, numerous filmmakers and production companies are scrambling to get film titles based on India's successful operation.

There have been several requests to register various film titles at the Mumbai offices of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), Producers Guild of India, and Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC).

14:19 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Uttarakhand tunnel survivors airlifted to AIIMS-Rishikesh for check-up

Workers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel were airlifted to AIIMS-Rishikesh for a health check-up on Wednesday, officials said.

Forty-one workers were rescued from the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi after a gruelling 17-day operation that culminated on Tuesday evening.

The workers were kept under medical observation at a hospital in Chinyalisaur after their evacuation.

An official at AIIMS-Rishikesh said the workers will first be taken to the trauma ward of the hospital from where they will be shifted to the disaster ward for a detailed examination of their health parameters. 

13:50 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

'Like brothers': Rescued Indian tunnel workers stayed hopeful through ordeal

The hope of being rescued soon kept many of the workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in India going through their experience, several of the men said on Wednesday, hours after they were freed after 17 days.

After spending the night at a makeshift medical facility in this small Himalayan hamlet, all 41 men, low-wage labourers from some of India's poorest states, were rescued and were being transferred to a specialised hospital in Rishikesh city.

Doctors said they were all recovering well but will require long-term care, including post-traumatic stress disorder monitoring.

The men had lights in their confinement area and service pipes were used to push in oxygen, water, food, medicines and also to talk to them, and allow them to speak to their families.

13:33 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Lost all hope of surviving: J'khand worker rescued from tunnel

The 41 workers trapped in the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel had lost all hopes of surviving said Anil Bediya, one of the rescued labourers, who he recalled survived the ordeal in the initial days by eating 'muri' (puffed rice) and licking water dripping from rocks.

The 22-year-old worker hailing from Jharkhand had a close brush with death after a portion of the Silkyara tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway in Uttarakhand collapsed early on November 12.

"Loud shrieks punctuated the air...We all thought we would be buried inside the tunnel and had lost all hope during the first couple of days," said Bediya.

13:31 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Goldi Solar offers rooftop solar power installation to 41 workers rescued from Uttarakhand tunnel

Gujarat-based Goldi Solar on Wednesday said it will install rooftop solar power system at the houses of the 41 workers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarakhand.

On Tuesday evening, rescue team pulled out all the 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in a multi-agency rescue operation that hovered between hope and despair for almost 17 days.

"With the nation celebrating safe returns of our brave workers who were trapped in Uttarkashi, we will support the affected families and individuals. Goldi Solar will power the residence of all the 41 workers with rooftop solar installations," the company said in a statement.

Goldi Solar Founder and MD Ishver Dholakiya said, this initiative is a step to empowering these families with access to sustainable energy and hope for a brighter future. Goldi Solar is committed to helping underprivileged communities and contributing to their well-being.

The company will bear the cost of the initiative, he said.

13:23 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Rescued workers enter IAF's transport aircraft Chinook to be flown to AIIMS Rishikesh for further evaluation

#WATCH | 41 rescued workers enter IAF's transport aircraft Chinook at Chinyalisaur, to be flown to AIIMS Rishikesh for further medical examination pic.twitter.com/L04DULg95V— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

12:52 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

CM Dhami meets workers rescued from tunnel at hospital, gives Rs 1 lakh cheque to each of them

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited with the workers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel and being treated at a hospital in Chinyalisaur on Wednesday and handed them Rs 1 lakh to each of them.

He also chatted with their relatives who were waiting outside the hospital. They congratulated him for extracting the trapped workers safely after nearly 17 days.

Dhami walked from bed to bed at the hospital, speaking to and handing out checks to each of the rescued workers.

The chief minister also offered a Rs. 50,000 award for each rescue worker who entered the evacuation path and assisted the stranded personnel in exiting the tunnel.

12:35 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

'Rat miners' to the rescue: How trapped India tunnel workers were saved

When heavy gear failed while attempting to break through the rubble that had trapped 41 miners in a tunnel in the Indian Himalayas, authorities called in a group of people whose occupation is practically prohibited in the nation - "rat-hole mining."

While augur machines were able to horizontally bore through roughly three-quarters of the rubble, it was up to a half-dozen skilled at burrowing in tiny areas to reach the stranded men on Tuesday.

After a 17-day struggle, rescuers successfully extracted the men in wheeled stretchers through a huge pipe pushed through the wreckage.

12:33 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

It is really a good day, says Vijay Rai on the successful rescue of his family member from Silkyara tunnel

#WATCH | Chinyalisaur, Uttarakhand: On the successful rescue of his family member from the Silkyara tunnel, Vijay Rai from Uttar Pradesh says, "My nephew was trapped inside. It is really a good day. It's a day of huge happiness. I would like to give credit for the successful… pic.twitter.com/6OGtuCFsSM— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

12:23 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

NDRF rescue team members recount experience leading to evacuation of 41 workers

Manmohan Singh Rawat, the leader of the team that went in to rescue workers in the Uttarkashi tunnel on Wednesday, stated that they maintained continual communication with people trapped inside during the operations.

He described his adventure and the successful rescue of 41 stranded workers within the Silkyara tunnel.

"When I entered the tunnel, I asked them, 'Ap loog kaise hai? (How are you?)" I said to them, 'Do not panic.' They were very happy to see the NDRF team reaching out to them," Rawat told ANI on Wednesday.

12:17 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Licked water dripping from rocks, ate 'muri' to survive: J'khand worker rescued from tunnel

Anil Bediya, one of the 41 labourers who were rescued from a collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel after 17 days, survived the ordeal by eating 'muri' (puffed rice) and licking water dripping from rocks.

The 22-year-old worker hailing from Jharkhand had a close brush with death after a portion of the Silkyara tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway in Uttarakhand collapsed early on November 12.

12:01 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Trapped workers safe, focus now on what led to Uttarakhand tunnel collapse

Rescuers have rescued all 41 workers who had been stranded for 17 days inside a collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel when rat miners bore through the debris, sparking joy. The investigation will now focus on what caused the collapse and why the rescue took so long.

12:00 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘18-24 hours passed in fear’: Rescued workers narrate 17-day ordeal

Workers who were freed from inside the Uttarkashi tunnel after 17 days are now looking forward to visiting their worried families.

Vishwajeet Kumar Verma, a Jharkhand-based worker who runs a compressor machine, said he was confident he would be rescued and reunited with his family.

"I am very happy and safe. All the other trapped labourers are also safe. Now, we are in the hospital. The debris had fallen at the beginning of the tunnel and I was on the other side. The road of about two and a half kilometers was empty. We used to roam around inside the tunnel to spend our time. There was a little fear in the beginning, but as we got food, water and talked to our families, our morale kept going higher and higher. We had full faith that very soon we would see the outside world," Vishwajeet said.

11:46 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘PM Modi didn't miss single day's update’ says Uttarakhand CM Dhami on Uttarkashi tunnel rescue

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Wednesday, expressed his happiness on the successful rescue of trapped 41 workers from the Uttarkashi tunnel and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself was being constantly updated of the mission and did not miss the updates even a single day.

"The mission was very challenging and all the people working in it have contributed. I thank everyone, especially our Prime Minister. I never heard that even for a single day the Prime Minister missed any update on the rescue mission. He took cognizance of even the minutest details of the rescue operation and extended his advice on how we could proceed further," said Dhami.

"He (PM Modi) explained everything about how to motivate the experts who were fully engaged and because of his constant guidance, we made this difficult campaign successful," Dhami added.

11:34 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘Celebrated only yesterday:’ A late Diwali for families of rescued workers from Uttarkashi tunnel

Family and friends of the 41 workers, who were safely pulled out from the debris of the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi after 17 days are jubiliant and have been celebrating by bursting firecrackers.

For them it was a late Diwali, as the tunnel collapse happened on November 12, the day of the the festival.

The family of rescued workers Ram Milan, Santosh Kumar and Ram Sundar in Uttar Pradesh's Shravasti rejoiced after their safe rescue.

11:33 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘Combined sense of purpose to save 41 people outweighed all challenges’ says tunnelling expert Arnold Dix

After the successful evacuation of all 41 workers who were trapped inside Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel for 17 days, International tunnelling expert Arnold Dix, said on Wednesday that though there were multiple challenges in the rescue operation, the combined sense of purpose to save the 41 people weighed out all the challenges.

On being asked about the kinds of challenges faced during the rescue operation, Arnold Dix said, "I think it would be better to say, what kind of challenges didn't we face? And what we didn't face was a combined sense of purpose to save the 41 people. That's the challenge we didn't face. We don't have that in many places. Everyone knew we were bringing those men home."

11:27 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Uttarkashi Rescue Operation Health Nodal Officer says all 41 workers are healthy

After screening and a health checkup at Chiniyalisaur Community Health Centre, 41 workers who were successfully rescued from the Silkyara Tunnel are healthy, said Dr. Bimlesh Joshi, Nodal Officer Health of Rescue operation.

"All 41 workers are currently healthy; their health screening has been done twice after the rescue, first inside the tunnel last night and second this morning. A team of 18 doctors at the Community Health Centre of Chinyalisaur has been monitoring his health since last night, out of which 10 are GDMOs and the remaining 8 are specialists, which include all types of specialists. Apart from this, there is a paramedical staff. There is a total staff of around 50, he said that since last night, all 41 labourers have been given a balanced diet, which includes paneer, boiled egg, kheer, roti, vegetables and rice" Dr. Bimlesh Joshi said.

11:17 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

'Fed me almonds': How trapped workers reacted when they first met rescue workers inside Uttarakhand tunnel

“I removed the last rock. I could see them. Then I went to the other side. I couldn’t. They hugged us, lifted us, and thanked us for taking them out,” these were the words of Munna Qureshi, the first rat miner who reached the site of the trapped area in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara Tunnel.

Recalling the moment, he told Hindustan Times, “We worked continuously in the last 24 hours. I can’t express my happiness. I have done it for my country. The respect they (trapped workers) have given us, I can’t forget in my whole life.”

Read More

11:02 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

'Practised yoga, took walks to keep spirits up': Rescued workers interact with PM

A rescued worker informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the 41 workers who were rescued from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in a multi-agency rescue effort kept their spirits up by taking morning walks and performing yoga.

The workers praised Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and the rescue teams for their efforts, with one stating they had nothing to worry about since if the government could save Indians overseas, they could save Indians at home.

In his telephonic conversation with the rescued workers late Tuesday night, Modi told them, I congratulate you on coming out safely after being in danger for so many days. It is a matter of happiness for me and I cannot express it in words. If something bad had happened, can't say how we would have taken that. It is God's grace that all of you are safe.

11:00 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘Didn't ask anything for me, I asked for 41 people out there’, says international tunnelling expert, Arnold Dix

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue |On worshipping God daily and the challenges, international tunnelling expert, Arnold Dix says, "I didn't ask anything for me, I asked for 41 people out there... and for all the people helping... We couldn't get anyone hurt..." pic.twitter.com/S7aMBEiktz— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

10:49 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: From rathole miners to Gen VK Singh, heroes of the mission

After 17 days – 400 hours to be exact – 41 workers trapped inside the tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara saw the light as they were brought out in a rescue operation that is being dubbed as India’s biggest one to date.

As each worker was pulled out of the tunnel, cheer, jubilation broke out at the site while the nation also heaved a collective sigh of relief. Loud cheers and slogans could be heard outside the tunnel as people greeted the ambulances that took the workers to community health centres while locals distributed streets.

Read More

10:47 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

'We never lost hope': Worker after being rescued from Silkyara tunnel

"We never lost hope," Vishal, one of the workers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel, told PTI.

After a 17-day multi-agency operation led by the federal and state administrations, all 41 workers were rescued on Tuesday evening.

Vishal, a native of Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, was rescued and greeted his family members outside the tunnel before being transferred to a hospital in an ambulance.

Ambulances waiting in line at the tunnel took the workers to a community health clinic with a dedicated 41-bed ward. Prior to this, the workers were given a cursory medical examination within the tunnel.

10:35 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

What 41 rescued Uttarakhand workers told Modi over phone

We were certain that if you can bring stranded Indians from overseas, you will help us, said the labourers, who were rescued from the collapsed tunnel, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a 15-minute phone call after being rescued. The 41 rescued workers praised the Prime Minister and expressed their admiration for his leadership.

The interaction took place on Tuesday during PM Modi's phone call at the Silkyara tunnel site, following the successful rescue of 41 workers trapped in the under-construction road tunnel in Uttarakhand. The tunnel, which was part of the Centre's grandiose Char Dham project, collapsed on November 12 owing to a landslip.

Modi congratulated all the labourers and expressed his happiness. “Kedarnath baba aur Badrinath ji ki kripa thi. Seventeen days is a long time. Each one of you motivated each other. I took regular updates. Our PMO officer had too camped at the spot,” the prime minister told the rescued workers.

10:19 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘We knew we would be rescued’ say rescued workers as they look forward to meeting families

Evacuated workers who were rescued from inside the Uttarkashi tunnel after 17 days of being trapped are now looking forward to meeting their anxious families.

A piece of the tunnel between 205 and 260 metres from the Silkyara side collapsed on November 12. Workers who had gone past the 260-metre mark were stranded, with no way out.

There are 15 men from Jharkhand, two from Uttarakhand, five from Bihar, three from West Bengal, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five from Odisha, two from Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh among the 41 men.

The rescued workers were met by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister VK Singh while dressed in orange marigold flower garlands.

The first workers were taken out after a series of agonising failures, including a pause in rescue attempts when the heavy drill used to cut through the rubble broke down, forcing crews to resort to riskier alternatives.

10:05 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Family, friends of rescued worker Akhilesh Kumar raise slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram'

#WATCH | Family and friends of rescued worker Akhilesh Kumar, in Gharwaspur village in UP's Mirzapur, raised slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' and lit earthen lamps and candles to celebrate the safe rescue of 41 men from Silkyara tunnel last night pic.twitter.com/7QmdrKy21i— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

10:01 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

All the workers are doing well, says Uttarakhand minister Prem Chand Aggarwal

#WATCH | After meeting rescued workers at Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre, Uttarakhand minister Prem Chand Aggarwal says, "All the workers are doing well. They are happy. Following SOPs, they can be shifted to Rishikesh, if required." pic.twitter.com/nkZQHJGM8w— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

09:49 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘It's been my honour to serve,’ says international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | On the successful rescue of all 41 workers from the Silkyara tunnel, international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix says, "It's been my honour to serve, and as a parent, it's been my honour to help out all the parents getting their… pic.twitter.com/3A7rqf02VR— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

09:42 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Sweets distributed to family members of Tinku Sardar, a worker rescued yesterday from the Silkyara tunnel

#WATCH | Ghatshila, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand: Sweets distributed to the family members of a worker, Tinku Sardar rescued yesterday from the Silkyara tunnel, 17 days after the incident took place pic.twitter.com/PqFLwn5hp6— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

09:32 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Rescued worker, Vishwajeet Kumar Verma, narrates his 17-day ordeal of being trapped in the Silkyara tunnel

#WATCH | First exclusive byte of rescued worker, Vishwajeet Kumar Verma, who narrates his 17-day ordeal of being trapped in the Silkyara tunnel

"When the debris fell, we knew that we were stuck. For the first 10-15 hours we faced difficulty. But later, a pipe was put in to… pic.twitter.com/65X4afMVvB— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

09:31 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘I will always wish that such a disaster doesn't strike again’, says former advisor to PMO Bhaskar Khulbe

#WATCH | On the successful rescue of all 41 workers from the Silkyara tunnel, former advisor to PMO Bhaskar Khulbe says, "I will always wish that such a disaster doesn't strike again. The courage shown by the 41 workers demonstrates shows how one should never leave hope" pic.twitter.com/DpWUC7n1Pd— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

09:29 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Subodh Kumar Verma, a worker rescued from the Silkyara tunnel, thanks Central, State governments for their efforts to bring out all 41 men safely

#WATCH | Subodh Kumar Verma, a worker rescued from the Silkyara tunnel, thanks the Central and State governments for their efforts to bring out all 41 men safely

"The first 24 hours were tough but after that food was provided to us through a pipe. I am absolutely fine and in… pic.twitter.com/ocfBxF2HZl— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

09:04 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

No one critical: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami after 41 labourers rescued from tunnel

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday said none of the 41 labourers rescued from an under-construction road tunnel in Uttarkashi district was in a critical condition.

"All of them were healthy. They crawled out of the passage rather than being carried on stretchers," Dhami told reporters soon after the evacuation of the labourers from the Silkyara tunnel.

He said the labourers, who were trapped in the tunnel for almost 17 days after a portion of the structure collapsed due to a landslide on November 12, will be kept under medical observation, before being sent home.

08:54 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Encouraged by the successful rescue operation, the rescue team raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'

#WATCH | Encouraged by the successful rescue operation, the rescue team raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' inside the Silkyara tunnel yesterday pic.twitter.com/JgbBbt7FJM— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

08:52 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Rescued worker gives a thumbs up the moment he comes out of the rescue pipe

#WATCH | Rescued worker gives a thumbs up the moment he comes out of the rescue pipe after being trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel for 17 days pic.twitter.com/C4RNOOa61m— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

08:51 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

So happy that I cannot express in words, says PM Modi in telephonic conversation with the 41 workers who were rescued from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi's telephonic conversation with the workers who were successfully rescued from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel after 17 days pic.twitter.com/G1q26t5Ke8— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

08:46 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

We used to keep reassuring them that they would be rescued soon, says NDRF personnel Manmohan Singh Rawat

#WATCH | NDRF personnel Manmohan Singh Rawat, who was among those who rescued the 41 workers from the Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel says, "The moment I reached inside the tunnel, the reaction of the workers was of extreme happiness. We used to keep reassuring them that they would… pic.twitter.com/9uEXfEHPJA— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

08:34 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Family of rescued worker Ram Milan in UP's Shravasti rejoice after safe rescue of all 41 workers from Silkyara tunnel

#WATCH | Family of rescued worker Ram Milan in UP's Shravasti rejoice after safe rescue of all 41 workers from Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand

"We are very happy. My relatives have gone to Uttarakhand to bring back my father. I would like to thank all those involved in the rescue… pic.twitter.com/npKetOGbS3— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

08:33 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

‘We are very happy’, says Dhanpati, mother of Ram Sundar, a worker rescued from the Silkyara tunnel

#WATCH | Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh: Dhanpati, mother of Ram Sundar, a worker rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, said, "We are very happy... We celebrated Diwali yesterday evening, the entire village celebrated Diwali happily yesterday." pic.twitter.com/Gegef2epiD— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

08:30 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Medical checkup of 41 workers underway at Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre

#WATCH | Medical checkup of 41 workers who were successfully rescued from Silkyara Tunnel is underway at Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre pic.twitter.com/hMkaSqu1eQ— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

08:17 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Families extend gratitude to govt following successful rescue of 41 workers from Silkyara tunnel

After 17 days of nervous waiting, joy and gladness flooded the faces of the family members of the 41 trapped workers on Tuesday evening as they learned of their successful rescue from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi.

The dramatic scene emerged as the finale of the nation's attention-grabbing rescue attempts.

After experiencing extended despair, the families celebrated the rescue and praised the authorities sincerely for bringing their loved ones back.

They celebrated by breaking crackers and handing out candy.

Some family members used video conferencing to check on the workers' well-being.

Many families who had arrived at the scene a few days after the disaster and had been sleeping there since were reunited with their loved ones.