In a remarkable rescue operation, 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand, India, were successfully extricated after a 17-day ordeal. The workers were part of a project to build the Chardham all-weather road, aimed at improving connectivity to various Hindu pilgrimage sites. The tunnel, part of a controversial multimillion-dollar project to upgrade India's transport network, collapsed due to a landslide, trapping the workers inside.
The rescue operation faced several setbacks, including technical problems and machinery breakdowns. However, the workers had access to light, food, water, and oxygen throughout their ordeal, which contributed to their survival. The last few meters of the rescue operation were drilled by hand, a testament to the skills and capabilities of the rescue system.
Interestingly, a group of 'rat miners' were called upon to assist in the rescue efforts. These miners, skilled at working in tight spaces, managed to reach the trapped workers after heavy machinery failed. 'Rat-hole' mining, the practice these miners are skilled in, is a controversial and hazardous method banned in India due to environmental damage and fatalities. The miners involved in the rescue operation stated they were not involved in coal mining and received their training in Delhi.
The successful rescue operation has been hailed as one of the most 'heroic acts' of rescue ever in India. The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, called it a huge relief for everyone involved. However, critics argue that the heavy construction could damage the Himalayan region, which is already impacted by the climate crisis.