Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to the rescued workers from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel and lauded them for their patience. The 41 workers who were trapped inside the under-construction tunnel after a part of it collapsed on November 12 finally saw the end of the tunnel after 17 days.
During his conversation with the workers, PM Modi applauded the workers for demonstrating togetherness and courage, and patience.
"17 days is not a short time, you all kept encouraging each other which is notable," said the PM while speaking to the workers.
"Sometimes banter takes place even while travelling in a railway coach but you kept patience, "I was in constant touch of CM Dhami and PMO officials were also at the site, so I was being informed, but that does not lower the worry."
PM Modi also said that the good deeds by the family members of the workers also paid off in successfully rescuing the workers.
Responding to Modi, one of the workers said they "never felt weak or stressed" for even a day in these 17 days. "We were were 41 workers from different states, we lived like brothers," he added.
The worker told PM that all of them used to take meals together while in captivity and would walk on the stretch that was available inside the tunnel. "In the morning I used to ask them to do a bit of yoga as we had nothing to do than just eat," he added.
"We would like to thank Uttarakhand government and CM Dhami who was in constant touch with us. He hugged us when we came out of the tunnel. VK sahab (General VK Singh) was also there and he also thanked us and hugged us," the worker said.
All the rescued 41 workers were taken to Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre where they underwent medical checkups.