Uttarkashi Rescue: All Trapped Workers Evacuated From Silkyara Tunnel After 16 Days; PM Extends Best Wishes | Highlights

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami left the Silkyara tunnel after all the trapped workers were evacuated from the collapsed tunnel on Tuesday evening.

"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," tweets Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the rescue efforts to safely evacuate the trapped workers from the Silkyara tunnel. He also congratulated the kin of the trapped workers on their safe evacuation. "It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait, these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones. The patience and courage that all these families have shown in this challenging time cannot be appreciated enough," PM Modi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to take a stock of the rescue operations after all 41 trapped workers were rescued from Silkyara tunnel earlier today.

Ambulances leave from the Silkyara tunnel site as all the trapped workers have been successfully rescued.

All 41 workers have been rescued from the Silkyara tunnel. CM Dhami was present at the spot and also met the rescued workers who came out of the tunnel. All the rescued workers are currently inside the safety tunnel inside the Silkyara tunnel and will be evacuated to the district hospital soon.

Locals distribute sweets outside the Silkyara tunnel as trapped workers are being rescued from the tunnel. Watch Video

In a tweet hailing the rescue teams, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated the kin of the trapped workers, as he met the rescued workers outside the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi. The process to evacuate all the trapped workers is underway.

Video shows CM Dhami meeting rescued workers outside Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi. The rescue operation ended today after 16 days. 

15 workers among the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand since November 12 have been successfully rescued.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday met the first rescued workers, who were evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel earlier today. A total of five workers have been rescued from the collapsed tunnel and the process to bring out the others is underway.

Five workers have been rescued from the collapsed tunnel, news agency ANI reported. The trapped workers are coming out of the tunnel in ambulances stationed there for the safe evacuation. Currently, all the labourers are in the safety tunnel inside the Silkyara tunnel.

A team of NDRF has brought out the first workers from the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi. The process to take out the remaining trapped workers is underway. 

"There has been a great success in the ongoing rescue operation in the Silkyara Tunnel, the work of pipe pushing has been done across the debris. Now preparations have been started to evacuate the workers safely." tweets Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami amid ongoing rescue operation Uttarkashi tunnel. 

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Live Updates: After the broken pieces of the auger drilling machine were cleared out of the debris, up to 12 rat-hole mining specialists were called in to complete the remaining drilling using hand-held instruments in a confined space. 

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Live Updates: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who was at the incident site earlier, leaves the location of Silkyara tunnel rescue.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tweets, "Have rushed a team to Uttarkashi for helping our people. The team, led by Rajdeep Dutta, Liaison Officer, Office of Resident Commissioner, Delhi, will help evacuation and safe return of the trapped workers in the tunnel at Silkyara, Uttarkashi to their homes in West Bengal."

Uttarkashi Rescue Live Updates: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) says that the rescue efforts are getting close to a breakthrough as the pipe has to be pushed for another two metres to reach the 41 workers who have been trapped in the Silkyara tunnel.

"NHAI has again started the work of audit of all tunnels. We are working on this with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and one other agency," says Vishal Chauhan, Member of NHAI amid ongoing rescue operations to save the 41 trapped workers from the collapsed Silkyara tunnel.

Rishikesh AIIMS on alert mode for medical services. A 41-bed ward including trauma center ready. A team of cardiac and psychiatric specialist doctors including trauma surgeon ready. Three helicopters can be landed simultaneously at the helipad of Rishikesh AIIMS. Workers in critical condition will be airlifted to Rishikesh AIIMS.

- "We are near a breakthrough but not yet there. We are at 58 metres, we are hoping that after 2 metres, we can say that it has passed through," Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Member, NDMA said.

- "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," he added.

- "It is estimated that it will take 3-5 minutes to evacuate each of the 41 persons. The entire evacuation is expected to take 3-4 hours. Three teams of NDRF will go in ise the tunnel to organise the evacuation. SDRF will provde support. Paramedics will also go inside the tunnel at the time of evacuation," he said.

- "Chinook helicopter is present at Chinyalisaur airstrip. The last time to fly the Chinook helicopter is 4:30 pm. We will not fly it during the night. Since there is a delay, the workers will be brought the next morning," he said.

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: Chinook helicopter stationed at Chinyalisaur airstrip to airlift the workers after their rescue from Silkyara tunnel.

Rescue workers on Tuesday drilled through the 60-metre stretch of the rubble of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in which 41 workers have been trapped for the last 16 days.

Ambulances have been sent to the Silkyara tunnel and a temporary medical facility has been established inside the tunnel. After the pulling out of the workers, they will undergo a health examination. Eight beds have also been arranged by the health department and a team of doctors has been deployed to cater to any medical emergency.

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Updates: "The pipe has been pushed inside very cautiously without any hurdle, a breakthrough has been achieved and the pipe has passed through. The work to rescue labourers has started. There are at least 3-4 phases in the rescue operation...Teams of NDRF have entered inside. The labourers will be taken out once the ramp is made," Akshet Katyaal, MD, Accurate Concrete Solutions said.

Mother of a trapped worker hopes to see his son after 16 days of struggle. "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," she said.

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Updates: Authorities have brought garlands to the Silkyara tunnel in anticipation of the stranded workers who are about to come out of the collapsed tunnel. Ambulances have been sent inside the tunnel to take the stranded workers to the Uttarkashi District hospital.

The 41 workers who are awaiting rescue will be brought to Community Health Center Chinyalisaur for medical treatment after they walk out of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.

"The rescued workers will be brought here only if medical treatment requirements cannot be met in Uttarkashi District hospital. At AIIMS Rishikesh, there are 20 beds in Trauma Centre and a few ICU beds. If the workers are brought here, they can be given good medical care. A team of doctors has been constituted to be sent to Uttarkashi, if ordered by the state government," AIIMS Rishikesh Assistant Professor Dr Narinder Kumar said.

According to Dainik Jagran, so far 15 workers have been evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel. The rescue team got the breakthrough at 57 meters. Teams of doctors are examining the health of the workers inside the tunnel. Union Minister of State VK Singh and Chief Minister Dhami are talking to the trapped workers.

The Father of a worker, trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, is hoping to meet his 22-year-old son soon as the rescuers finally dig through the debris and lay pipes for the stranded workers to crawl out.

"Officials have told us evacuation of workers is likely. We have been asked to keep our clothes and belongings ready," Choudhary, the father of 22-year-old Manjit, who has been trapped inside said, as quoted by PTI.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami arrived at the Silkyara tunnel where drilling work is completed and workers are being pulled out, soon enough all the workers will be brought out. ,

#WATCH | Uttarkashi tunnel rescue | Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrives at the site of Silkyara tunnel rescue.

He tweets, "...work of inserting the pipe inside the tunnel is complete. All the workers will be rescued soon." pic.twitter.com/KUMWuUiRqb, — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

The manual drilling has been completed and pipes have been pushed in. As per the latest updates, one stranded worker has been pulled out and soon enough all the workers should be brought out of the collapsed tunnel. Several ambulances and medical aid is on standby.,

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Several ambulances enter the Silkyara tunnel. NDRF, SDRF and several other agencies continue to be at the spot. pic.twitter.com/qwbZIjFjcj, — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

#WATCH | Uttarkashi tunnel rescue | An ambulance being taken inside the tunnel. As per the latest update, pipe has been inserted up to 55.3 metres. pic.twitter.com/ULnuwq2RrS, — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

The winter session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly began today. CM Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav paid their tribute on the demise of former state minister and BJP MLA Ashutosh Tandon. 

Telangana Elections 2023: Rahul Gandhi on his visit to Telangana interacted with auto drivers, gig workers and sanitary workers in Jubilee Hills and then took a ride on an autorickshaw. In a video shared by news agency ANI, Rahil can be sitting in a rickshaw and is surrounded by a score of guards on the road. ,

#WATCH | Telangana Elections | After his interaction with auto drivers, gig workers and sanitary workers in Jubilee Hills, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi rides in an autorickshaw. pic.twitter.com/xRABYKnqzk, — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today and took information regarding the relief and rescue work of workers trapped in the tunnel in Silkyara. CM Dhami briefed PM Modi about the ongoing construction work and that special care is being taken for the safety of the people engaged in relief work outside. 

Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, on health grounds. Supreme Court said that Balaji’s condition doesn’t seem to be very serious to get bail and said he can apply for regular bail before the trial court. Balaji’s counsel then withdrew his bail plea from the Supreme Court.

BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) on Tuesday started its drive against shops, hotels and other establishments in Mumbai that do not have Marathi signboards in Devanagari script. BMC had issued a press release issuing directions regarding the same. A team has been formed to take action against such establishments that did not follow the directives.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami who is currently present at the collapse site said, "All engineers, experts and others are working with all their strength. As of now, the pipe has gone 52 metres in. With 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..."

"Almost 52 metres has been done (pipe inserted). It is expected that there will be a breakthrough around 57 metres. 1 metre of the piple was pushed in before me, if 2 metres more of it is pushed in it will be around 54 metres in. After that, one more pipe will be used in...Earlier steel girders were found (during drilling), this has reduced now. Right now, we are finding more of concrete, it is being cut with cutter," he added.,

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "All 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… pic.twitter.com/MNacENvwti, — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

A two-day session of the Punjab Assembly has been convened by the cabinet led by the Bhagwant Mann government and is scheduled to start on Tuesday. House proceedings will start at 2 pm on the first day.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami reaches at Silkyara tunnel where the operation to rescue 41 trapped workers is underway. As per the officials,  about 57 metres of drilling work from the mouth of the tunnel, is to be done in total to lay a pipe inside the tunnel to reach the trapped workers.

A six-year-old girl was kidnapped from Pooyappally in rural Kollam district on Monday evening when she was going for tuition with her brother. Following the incident, her mother received a phone call, demanding a ransom of Rs 5 lakhs.

As a part of the investigation, the police on Tuesday conducted a search at a car wash centre in Thiruvananthapuram.,

Kerala | A six-year-old girl was kidnapped from Pooyappally in rural Kollam district last evening when she was going for tuition with her brother. Police started a statewide search. The girl's mother received a phone call, demanding a ransom of Rs 5 lakhs. Details awaited., — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

After light rain showers in Delhi and surrounding areas, the air quality in the national capital improved marginally on Tuesday. The AQI in the national capital continues to remain 'poor'. The air quality index (AQI) at any given time is the average of readings taken in the last 24 hours.,

#WATCH | Air quality in Delhi shows slight improvement with the rainfall it received yesterday. Drone visuals from the area around Red Fort.

(Visuals shot at 7:15 am) pic.twitter.com/o8idHCm2zY, — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Qatar and Egypt - who have been facilitating indirect negotiations between the two sides - for reaching an agreement that will allow more hostages to be freed from Gaza and more aid to reach the territory.

Seventeen days and counting, the wait for the 41 trapped workers continues as the efforts to evacuate them from the tunnel goes on. Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper on Tuesday that the drilling has crossed 50 metres and only 5 to 6 metres of drilling is left to be done.
The latest visuals shared by ANI show manual drilling ongoing inside the rescue tunnel. Auger machine is being used for pushing the pipe. So far about 2 meters of manual drilling has been completed after it started on Tuesday.