Trapped Workers’ Encounter Recounted by Rat-Hole Miners

Rat-hole miners have emerged as the heroes in Uttarkashi as they tirelessly worked to rescue 41 workers who were trapped in a collapsed tunnel. Despite the challenges of working in a cramped space where even breathing was difficult, these miners used their bare hands to drill their way to the trapped individuals. Their efforts were met with gratitude and relief from the rescued workers.

Devendra, one of the miners, shared, “The workers were so happy seeing us. They hugged us and offered us almonds.” Another miner mentioned, “We cut 15 meters. We were very happy when we reached there and got a glimpse of them.” These statements highlight the joy and sense of accomplishment felt by the rescuers upon reaching the trapped workers.

Initially, the rescue operation relied on a high-tech drilling machine, but it broke down in the final stages. The miners then resorted to rat-hole mining, a banned practice, as a last resort. Despite the risks involved, they continued to manually drill their way towards the trapped workers.

The team leader praised the miners for their dedication and hard work, stating, “They worked very hard. We were convinced that we must rescue the trapped workers. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us. They worked 24 hours non-stop to bring them out.” Their relentless efforts paid off as all 41 workers were successfully evacuated.

Acknowledging the crucial role played by the rat-hole miners, Uttarakhand Chief Minister expressed his gratitude during a press conference, saying, “Machines kept getting busted, but I want to thank the manual miners. I even met the workers who were trapped. They said they faced no problem inside the tunnel.”

After being trapped for 17 days, the 41 workers were finally rescued. The incident took place in Silkyara, Uttarkashi district, on November 12. As a precautionary measure, vertical drilling was also underway as an alternative option in case the horizontal drilling encountered further obstacles.

The heroic efforts of the rat-hole miners in saving the trapped workers serve as a testament to human resilience and the power of teamwork in the face of adversity.