Rat miners who saved 41 in Silkyara tunnel collapse honoured with bravery medals
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday, August 5, conferred the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak on 12 rat miners who took part in the rescue of 41 labourers trapped under the collapsed, under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand in November 2023.
The labourers had been trapped for 17 days under a collapsed portion of the tunnel before their rescue.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Gadkari, the road transport and highways minister, described the Silkyara rescue operation as one of the most challenging, saying it received constant attention at the highest level, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi closely monitoring developments and ensuring all possible resources were mobilised for the safe evacuation of the trapped workers.
According to Gadkari, experts from multiple agencies including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Indian Army, the Government of Uttarakhand, and technical specialists from across the country worked in close coordination to devise the rescue strategy.
Gadkari said a critical breakthrough came with the insertion of a pipeline into the collapsed section of the tunnel, which allowed food, water, medicines and other essential supplies to reach the trapped workers.
The 12 rat miners, he said, voluntarily entered the confined and hazardous space to manually clear the remaining debris, enabling the safe rescue of all the trapped workers.
He called their act "exceptional bravery and sacrifice" and said it would stand as an enduring example for future generations.
"Risking one's own life to save others reflects the highest ideals of courage, public service and humanity," Gadkari said, adding that the nation would always remember their contribution.
He said the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak was well-deserved recognition of the miners' extraordinary courage and unwavering commitment to saving human lives, and also acknowledged the collective efforts of all stakeholders involved in the rescue mission.
Gadkari presented each awardee with a decoration medallion and certificate, along with a miniature medal in addition to the main medallion. Each recipient has also been granted a lump-sum monetary allowance of Rs 2,00,000, disbursed online.
Separately, the report noted that excavation work on the 4.53-km Silkyara Tunnel was completed in April last year. The double-lane tunnel is expected to cut the distance between Gangotri and Yamunotri on the Char Dham route by 25 km.
