Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: The big role played by Narendra Modi, PMO

After 17 long days, 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand were evacuated safely. It was the most daring rescue operation carried out by India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a big role in it. Officials of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) were hands-on in this top-level mission – some working tirelessly at Ground Zero. We take a look at PM Modi’s involvement in saving the lives of the labourers. PM Modi’s phone call with workers Soon after all the workers were rescued, the prime minister put out a heartfelt note. Terming the success of the tunnel rescue operation as “an emotional moment”, 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. Praising the efforts of the rescue workers, he wrote that they 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.

उत्तरकाशी में हमारे श्रमिक भाइयों के रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन की सफलता हर किसी को भावुक कर देने वाली है।

टनल में जो साथी फंसे हुए थे, उनसे मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि आपका साहस और धैर्य हर किसी को प्रेरित कर रहा है। मैं आप सभी की कुशलता और उत्तम स्वास्थ्य की कामना करता हूं।

यह अत्यंत…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2023

PM Modi also had a 15-minute phone conversation with the labourers. “I did not want to speak to you before the medical check-up but after the doctors told me that all of you were fine, I could not control my excitement and decided to speak to you though it is late in the night,” he told the rescued men in Hindi. “I congratulate everyone, I am very happy. Kedarnath Baba and Badrinath ji ki kripa rahi. Seventeen days is a very long time, each one of you motivated each other. I took regular updates, our PMO officers had camped at the spot.” The labourers were touched by the PM’s gesture. They told him that they were very happy to be rescued and that there was no shortage of food inside. “We are proud of your leadership, when you could bring stranded Indians from abroad, we were sure you would also help rescue us too,” they said. Also read: Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: From rathole miners to Gen VK Singh, heroes of the mission PM Modi closely monitoring the situation Former Army Chief and now Union Minister VK Singh and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also played a crucial role in coordinating rescue efforts. They reached the Silkyara tunnel, giving some important tips to the rescuers and were constantly monitoring the evacuation efforts. VK Singh was at the evacuation site for at least four days, taking stock. PM Modi was regularly in touch with them and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Dhami, getting updates about the progress. He took time out of his hectic schedule and travel to hold talks with stakeholders. [caption id=“attachment_13443752” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways VK Singh greet rescued workers coming out of the collapsed Silkyara Tunnel, in Uttarkashi district. PTI[/caption] An important decision was to set up a landline facility by BSNL. A handset was sent to the trapped workers to keep all communication lines open, according to a report in News18. “The entire Uttarakhand episode demonstrates yet again that when it comes to PM Modi, he will leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of any Indian, whether that Indian is stuck in a tunnel inside a mountain or an Indians trapped abroad on foreign soil in Ukraine or Afghanistan,” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told News18. “No Bharatiya left behind. Be it on foreign soil or be it in a deep tunnel,” he wrote on X.

No Bharatiya Left Behind
Be it on foreign soil or be it in a deep tunnel

#UttarakhandTunnelRescue pic.twitter.com/iHmdDeAsxr

— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) November 29, 2023

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The PMO’s involvement As soon as the PMO received information about the tunnel collapse on the Yamunotri national highway in the Uttarkashi district on 12 November, Modi was informed. The leader and the PMO team have been closely monitoring the situation since, resolving the save the lives of the 41 men. Dr PK Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, visited the spot on 27 November and took stock of the progress being made. He is the country’s foremost disaster management expert. He interacted with the trapped labourers through a communication line, assuring them that they would be safely evacuated. But the work didn’t stop at that. Sources told The Indian Express that Mishra directed deputy secretary to the PMO, Mangesh Ghildiyal, to also be present at the accident site. He was stationed in Uttarkashi until the success of the rescue mission on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_13443792” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Rescue and relief operations were underway at the tunnel at Yamunotri national highway in Uttarkashi district on 15 November. File photo/PTI[/caption] Bhaskar Khulbe, the former adviser to the PM and now the officer of special duty (OSD) in the Uttarakhand government, has been camping near the tunnel collapse site. On 19 November, he said that the government was monitoring all options possible for rescue, ensuring that there was never a lack of resources. On the successful rescue Khulbe said, “I will always wish that such a disaster doesn’t strike again. The courage shown by the 41 workers demonstrates shows how one should never leave hope.” Also read: Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: How the rescue of 41 trapped workers unfolded over 17 days It was at the instance of the PMO, that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), hydroelectric power generation company SJVN and power firm THDC, among others were roped in. From drilling to providing food and medicines, they played a vital role in the rescue. Several technologies and innovative solutions like drones, robots, and endoscopic cameras were deployed with the backing of DRDO, the Department of Science, and other private-start-ups and companies, a source told The Indian Express. More than 17 agencies got into action – the PMO, CMO, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), among others. [caption id=“attachment_13443802” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] VK Singh and Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the site on 23 November to monitor rescue operations. PTI[/caption] A coordination meeting with all the agencies working at the rescue spot was chaired by the principal secretary to the PM on 20 November. The heads of these teams were told to monitor the situation on an hourly basis, reports The Indian Express. A green corridor for machinery to be transported to the site was created and the NDMA briefed the media at regular intervals after instructions from the PMO. Everyone who mattered was involved. They came together and moved mountains. The message was clear: The life of every Indian is precious. With inputs from agencies