Joyful Reunion: Families Express Thanks To Govt After Successful Rescue of 41 Workers From Silkyara Tunnel

After rescue workers pulled out all 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in a multi-agency rescue operation that hovered between hope and despair for almost 17 days, their family members have expressed gratitude to the government.

The families, facing prolonged despair, joyously commemorated the rescue and expressed sincere gratitude to the government for reuniting them with their dear ones.

They celebrated the occasion by bursting crackers and distributing sweets. Certain family members participated in video calls with the workers to confirm their well-being. Numerous relatives, who had arrived at the site a few days after the incident and had been staying there ever since, were ultimately reunited with their loved ones.

Father of Manjit, who was one among the 41 trapped workers, said, "I am very happy that my son has been safely rescued. I thank the Government of India for safely rescuing all the people trapped inside the tunnel." The visuals showed celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri at their residence.

Family members of another worker, Ram Prasad Narzary, looked very happy, and Narzary's wife said, "I am very happy... I thank the Government of India." Narzary's father stated, "I want to thank the Government of India and the Assam government for safely rescuing all the people trapped inside the tunnel... I am relieved after hearing that the rescued have been taken to the hospital."

A relative of Santosh Kumar, one of the workers who was rescued from the Uttarkashi tunnel, said, "I am very happy... He asked us not to worry and said that he would return soon. 6 people from Shravasti were trapped inside the tunnel..."

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."

Rescue workers pulled out all 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel. An ambulance with the first of the 41 workers left the mouth of the tunnel around 8 pm, about an hour after a group of rat-hole mining experts dug through the last stretch of rubble.

There was hugging and cheers as the ordeal ended. Outside the tunnel, some people chanted "Har Har Mahadev" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai" Ambulances which had lined up at the tunnel ferried the workers to a community health centre where a special 41-bed ward had been set up.

Meanwhile, a medical checkup of 41 workers who were successfully rescued from the Silkyara Tunnel is underway at Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre

The labourers will be kept under medical observation for some time before being sent home, an official told PTI.