After 17 days of intense efforts, all 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel have been successfully rescued. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra expressed gratitude, declaring the workers' resilience a testament to overcoming challenges. His tweet, praising the collective efforts, garnered widespread support online. PM Modi commended the courage and patience of the trapped workers, emphasizing the remarkable example of humanity and teamwork displayed during the rescue mission. Doctors confirm the workers are in good health, and elaborate preparations, including an Air Force Chinook chopper, ensure their transfer to Chinyalisaur hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the triumphant rescue of all 41 workers from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel, trapped for 17 days. Modi expressed on X, "The success of the rescue operation is an emotional moment. To the trapped workers, I say your courage and patience are inspiring. I wish you good health." He lauded the workers' families for their resilience, adding, "Their relatives showed immense patience and courage." Saluting the rescue team, Modi emphasized, "Their valour and determination have given a new life to the workers. Every individual involved has set an example of humanity and teamwork." The rescued workers are being shifted for medical care through a "green corridor."

After being trapped for 17 days, all 41 workers have been rescued from the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. In a late-night breakthrough on Tuesday, teams of rat-hole miners from the NDRF safely pulled out the workers who were stuck since November 12. The complex rescue spanned over 400 hours, facing multiple challenges. Post-rescue, the workers were swiftly shifted to a nearby hospital through a "green corridor." Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who monitored the operation, met the rescued workers. The hazardous rescue marked success after persistent efforts by the rescue crew and prayers of families.

After being trapped for over 17 agonizing days inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, the first worker was finally pulled out to safety on Tuesday night. The complex rescue operation spanned more than 400 hours as teams dug through over 50 meters of debris to reach the 41 trapped workers. Following multiple setbacks, rescuers managed to break through using manual digging in the final stretch when machines failed. As preparations began to evacuate the workers, the first worker was stretchered out around 8 pm and rushed for medical care, marking major headway after tireless efforts. Teams will now work to bring the remaining workers out one-by-one on wheeled stretchers through the newly carved path.

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation may go overnight, experts monitoring the situation say. The National Disaster Management Agency said the pipe has "to be pushed for another two metres to reach" the 41 workers trapped for 16 days, indicating evacuation will occur overnight. Lt Gen (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain stated: "...According to me, it will take the entire night to complete this operation..." Rat-hole miners are manually drilling the final debris stretch horizontally after the main drilling got obstructed. Around 40% of the needed vertical boring is done too. Reinforcing "no premature announcements", Lt Gen Hasnain asserted: "We have to take care of the safety and security of people...We are not in any hurry..." Inching agonizingly closer, dangerous overnight rescue operations are expected soon to extricate the 41 deprived of natural light since November 12 in the cramped tunnel. Earlier, a top state official suggested drilling was "over" before CM Dhami posted pipe installation was done and workers would "soon" exit. 

In the latest updates from the Uttarkashi rescue site, 'rat miners' are manually digging the debris and are just 2 meters away from reaching and evacuating the 41 workers trapped for 17 days in Uttarakhand's collapsed tunnel. Work is being conducted slowly and cautiously over safety concerns. Elaborate rescue preparations include an underground hospital to stabilize rescued workers and a standby Air Force Chinook helicopter to transfer them once evacuated. Earlier, multiple prior high-tech drilling attempts were hindered by tough terrain and falling debris. Videos released by rescue teams show the daunting piles of concrete and metal blocking access. After external machines failed, outlawed "rat-hole" mining was deployed for the last hazardous stretch to break through and save the group deprived of natural light since November 12 in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel. Their liberty is now tantalizingly close.

In the latest updates coming from the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue site, member of the National Disaster Management Agency, Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata clarified rescuers were "not quite there", with manual diggers reaching only 58 of 60 needed meters. 2-metre digging is still left before 41 trapped workers can be pulled out. Earlier, a top state official suggested drilling was "over" before CM Dhami posted pipe installation was done and workers would "soon" exit. However, NHIDCL MD Mahmood Ahmed did not confirm the drilling completion. With euphoric talk worrying officials, Lt Gen Ata insisted "no premature announcements" will be made stressing "safety and security." All principles will be followed, he said adding "We are not in any hurry..." Authorities voiced notes of caution amid premature official announcements about the marathon tunnel rescue effort approaching fruition.

A Chinook helicopter is present to airlift workers post-extraction from Uttarakhand's collapsed tunnel, where dozens of officials and foreign specialists have joined massive efforts to save 41 trapped men, reports ANI. Medical facilities inside the tunnel have been expanded with a team of doctors and experts being deployed along with the rescuers. CM Dhami and PMO officers are at the crisis site monitoring the situation. Nodal officer Neeraj Khairwal overseeing command from the ground; UK-based engineer Chris Cooper consulting on the rail tunnel rescue; Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain helming NDMA's role; expert Arnold Dix inspecting for most efficient worker extraction; 6 rat-hole mining pros from Madhya Pradesh assisting in hazardous manual drilling. Alongside state agencies, global tunneling, disaster response, and mining experts are providing crucial assistance to ensure the complex mission succeeds in bringing out the workers enduring over 17 days of entrapment.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) gears up to rescue 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel. Equipped with gas cylinders and lights, the NDRF team plans to traverse the rescue pipeline to the other side, with a provision for doctors to assess the workers' health. Using wheel-fitted stretchers and a rope mechanism, the trapped individuals will be pulled to safety one by one. The arduous process follows days of challenging anticipation. The workers, trapped behind a formidable 60-meter wall of debris, faced a critical situation. Manual drilling commenced on Monday, aiming to facilitate the rescue. Overcoming obstacles, an augur machine part obstructing evacuation pipes was successfully removed on the same day through vertical drilling from the top of the mountain. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed gratitude for the tireless efforts, stating, "With the blessings of Baba Baukh Nag and prayers of crores, the pipeline has breached the debris. Soon, the workers will be brought to safety." The anxious wait for the families of the trapped workers now hinges on the meticulous execution of this intricate rescue mission.

AIIMS Rishikesh Assistant Professor Dr. Narinder Kumar said rescued Uttarakhand tunnel workers "will be brought here only if medical treatment requirements cannot be met in Uttarkashi District hospital." He informed that AIIMS has readied 20 trauma and ICU beds with a doctor team to deploy if the state government orders. But primary treatment will occur in Uttarkashi. One anxious mother of a trapped worker said "It has been 17 days since my son has been trapped...I won't believe it until I see it." Separately, rescued worker Gabar Singh's brother Jaimal thanked PM Modi for the operation and praised Minister VK Singh's supervision. With victims nearing freedom, AIIMS has backup beds and staff prepared in case Uttarkashi facilities get overwhelmed handling potentially serious medical issues.