Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union minister V K Singh welcomed the workers as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel brought them out through a steel chute that lined a 60-metre escape passage.
Terming the success of the tunnel rescue operation in Uttarkashi as “an emotional moment”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the courage and patience of the trapped workers calling it an “inspiration to everyone”.
“I want to say to friends who were trapped in tunnel that your courage and patience is inspiration to everyone,” he said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister also praised the efforts of the rescue workers saying that it has set an “amazing example of humanity and teamwork.” “I salute spirit of those associated with tunnel rescue operation, their bravery has given new life to labourers who were trapped there,” Modi added.
President Draupadi Murmu expressed her relief and happiness over the rescue of all the trapped workers and added that the travails of the rescue teams over 17 days amid multiple setbacks have been a “testament of human endurance”.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari said he is “relieved and happy” that all the workers were successfully rescued.
“This was a well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies, marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years. Various departments and agencies complemented each other despite facing numerous challenges,” Gadkari said in a post on X.
He also expressed gratitude to each agency and individual involved in this rescue operation as well as deep appreciation for the international rescue experts, administrative officers, and the Uttarakhand government for their swift and effective response.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the rescue of the workers as “great news for the nation” and said the country salutes their grit in facing such a challenging situation for so long.
He also expressed his gratitude to all those who made tireless efforts to save the labourers.
Hours after the workers were taken to a community health centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to them over the phone.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
First published on: 28-11-2023 at 21:26 IST
