Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday announced that Rs 1 Lakh will be awarded to each rescued worker, news agency PTI reported. "Baukhnag temple to be rebuilt. Tunnels under construction to be reviewed," CM Dhami stated. The 41 workers trapped within the Silkyara tunnel were freed on Tuesday, ending a 17-day ordeal.
Praising the efforts of rescue workers, CM Dhami stated: "I want to thank all the members who were part of this rescue operation. PM Modi was constantly in touch with me and was taking updates of the rescue op. He gave me the duty to rescue everyone safely anyhow without his support, this wouldn't have been possible. He spoke to me just now and instructed that medical check-ups of everyone must be done. And facilities must be done to take them to their homes."
Manual miners performed an important role in the subterranean rescue effort, CM Dhami stated, adding: "International experts consulted on shortest route for rescuing workers."
"Auger machines repeatedly hit hurdles. I thank manual miners who accomplished tunnel rescue mission," he further stated.
Speaking on the conditions of rescued workers, CM Dhami assured that no one is critical, adding: "they all have come out from a different environment and condition so we will do as per the advice of the doctors...first they will be kept under medical supervision, their monitoring will be done."
According to CM's office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and wished the safe evacuation of 41 Silkyara workers. During this time, the Prime Minister obtained information on the workers from the Chief Minister.
Talking with reporters, Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) said: "Whatever things we were in need of, we received them all because of the guidance of PM Modi...there was good coordination(among members) in all the work that was done."
Earlier, Dhami was seen praising the worker in a video posted by the news agency PTI. VK Singh, a Union minister, was also present.
Members of the SDRF and NDRF crews entered the tunnel with stretchers before the initial evacuation. Union Minister VK Singh joined Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on-site to greet the workers.
On November 12, a landslip caused a part of the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) tunnel to collapse, trapping the workers.
The vast majority of the trapped workers were migrant labourers from various sections of the nation. Numerous relatives representing these workers have travelled to the site, where they have been stationed for days, seeking updates on the rescue effort and hoping to see their loved ones again.
(With Inputs From Agencies)