Uttarakhand CM Unveils Book on 17-Day Silkyara Tunnel Rescue

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami released 'Wo 17 Din', detailing the 17-day rescue mission of 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel. The operation, guided by PM Modi, saw successful rescue efforts employing rat-hole mining techniques and international collaboration.

In a significant event on Monday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the book 'Wo 17 Din', which recounts the harrowing 17-day period when 41 workers were trapped in the Silkyara tunnel. The Chief Minister detailed his close monitoring of the rescue efforts alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'The rescue operation was a major success under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi,' noted CM Dhami as he congratulated author Rajiv Ranjan Singh and highlighted the book's positive message.

The incident, which occurred on November 12 last year, saw a segment of the tunnel collapse, trapping 41 workers. The multi-faceted operation saw the participation of various state and central agencies, alongside expert help from Australian tunnel specialists Arnold Dix and Chris Cooper.

Workers from states including Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam were rescued. Rat-hole miners from Uttar Pradesh played a crucial role in the extraction process.

When heavy machinery failed, rescuers turned to rat-hole mining, a method involving the creation of small tunnels for extracting trapped individuals. Team leader Vakeel Hasan described the emotional moment of the rescue as life-saving for the trapped workers.

'Seeing them was like offering water to a person dying of thirst,' Hasan recounted to ANI. 'It was an emotional and triumphant moment for everyone involved.' The arduous mission saw all 41 workers emerging safely.

(With inputs from agencies.)