India’s transportation minister, Nitin Gadkari, announced on Tuesday that all 41 construction workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in northern India have been rescued after 17 days. The workers were trapped inside the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, due to a landslide on November 12, 2023.

Gadkari expressed his relief, stating the rescue was a well-coordinated effort involving multiple agencies. The workers were safely pulled out using a passage made of welded pipes, which rescuers pushed through dirt and rocks.

A Joyful Rescue

As the first worker emerged, Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, greeted him with a garland, while locals cheered and chanted “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Long live Mother India). Firecrackers were set off in celebration. One of the rescuers described the workers’ joy upon seeing the rescue team, with some rushing to hug them.

The Complex Rescue Operation

The workers had survived on food and oxygen delivered through narrow steel pipes. The rescue mission involved manually digging through debris after a drilling machine failed. Despite the challenges, the team successfully drilled over 58 meters (190 feet) to reach the trapped workers.

Families anxiously gathered at the site, waiting for news of their loved ones. Among them was Jaimal Singh, who hoped to see his brother Gabbar Singh, one of the trapped workers. After weeks of hard work, the mission ended with the safe rescue of all 41 workers.

Tunnel Project and Risks

The tunnel is part of the Chardham all-weather road project, connecting major Hindu pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand. Some experts warn that such projects could worsen the fragile conditions in the upper Himalayas, which are prone to landslides and subsidence.