When were the tunnel workers rescued?
On 12th November 2023, 41 tunnel workers were trapped when a tunnel under construction (Silkyara-Barkot tunnel) in Uttarakhand collapsed. Thankfully, rescue teams worked really hard and managed to save all of them. They were safely rescued on 28th November 2023.
The families of the workers felt great relief and happiness after the successful rescue. After being saved, the workers were taken to hospitals in ambulances.
How was the rescue operation carried out?
After the workers got stuck in the tunnel, rescue teams tried to clear about 60 metres of rocks and metal blocking their way out. The plan was to make a horizontal path using pipes so the trapped workers could crawl out. But cutting through metal rods and loose soil slowed things down.
Last week, the machine used for drilling sideways stopped working. So then, two dozen "rat-hole" miners came in to drill and clear a path to the trapped workers. These miners used handheld tools to remove the last few metres of debris. Then, rescue teams with ropes, ladders, and wheeled stretchers went into the tunnel to bring the men out.
The workers were brought out through a passage made with welded pipes. The trapped workers had been supplied with food and oxygen through narrow steel pipes in the past few days. Officials say they are all in good health.
What is rat hole mining?
Rat-hole mining is a manual drilling technique used to extract coal and is very dangerous. Narrow pits are dug into the ground by workers. These pits are only large enough for one person to go down and extract coal. That’s why it's known as “rat hole mining.”
This method can cause the death of miners from a lack of food and air. That’s why it has been banned in many countries, including India. But this banned drilling technique did help save the lives of all the workers trapped in the collapsed tunnel.
What did the workers do while they were trapped?
According to several reports, the construction workers trapped inside the tunnel passed their time by playing Ludo on their phones, going on daily walks, practising Yoga, and talking to each other. They tried their best to remain positive.
When they finally got out after 17 days, they were greeted with wild cheers, flower garlands, and even firecrackers. The workers are all very grateful to the government and the people who carried out the rescue operation.
