"Medical protocols being followed, workers under observation," Uttarkashi DM on tunnel rescue

Nov 29, 2023

Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], November 29 : After the successful rescue of the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel, the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi, Abhishek Ruhela on Wednesday said that medical protocols are being followed and all the workers are under observation.
"Based on the suggestion of the doctors, the workers are sent to high centres for further medical examination. Medical protocols are being followed and they're under observation," DM Ruhela said.
The 41 rescued workers from the Uttarkashi tunnel, were brought to AIIMS Rishikesh from Chinyalisaur for their further medical examination.
The workers were brought to Rishikesh on board the IAF Chinook helicopter.
The District Magistrate also thanked the rescue workers and central agencies involved in the rescue operation of the 41 workers.
Superintendent of Police, Uttarkashi, Arpan Yaduvanshi highlighted the last moment of the rescue operation when the first labourer came of the tunnel and said that everyone including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was emotional.
"Various agencies were involved in the rescue operation of the workers. At the last moment when the first worker came out of the tunnel, everyone including CM Dhami was emotional," SP Yaduvanshi said.
Meanwhile, CM Dhami has announced that an incentive amount of Rs 50,000 each will be given to all the personnel working in the rescue operation inside the Silkyara Tunnel.
He also met the rescued workers from the Silkyara tunnel at Chinyalisaur Hospital on Wednesday and said that workers have been completely examined and are healthy.
"I have just met everyone and everyone is healthy and all of their family members are happy. They have been fully examined and there is no health problem as such," said Dhami.
"The cheques of Rs 1 lakh which I had announced for the trapped workers have also been provided to them and the rescue workers who went inside the tunnel and dug it will also be rewarded with an amount of Rs 50,000 by the state government," he added.
On being asked about the accountability of the incident, CM Dhami said that the government of India has already ordered a safety audit of the tunnels that are being constructed in the country.
All 41 workers who were trapped inside Uttarakhand's Silkyari tunnel since November 12 were evacuated safely on Tuesday evening.
On November 12, a section of the tunnel between 205 and 260 metres from the Silkyara side collapsed. Workers who were beyond the 260-metre mark were trapped, with their exit blocked.
Following the safe evacuation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the courage and patience of the trapped workers and their families, as well as the bravery and determination of the rescue personnel.
PM Modi further said that everyone involved in this mission has set an example of humanity and teamwork.