41 Trapped workers rescued from the Uttarakhand tunnel to be flown to AIIMS Rishikesh for further treatment

The 41 workers, rescued after being trapped for 17 days in the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel on Tuesday, will reportedly be transported by air to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh for further examination and treatment, following days of confinement. The workers are reportedly in good health, are currently being treated at a community health center, undergoing physical and mental rehabilitation.

The Chief Medical Officer of Uttarkashi, RCS Panwar, stated that the workers were in good physical and mental condition. He mentioned that they are scheduled to be transported to AIIMS in Rishikesh. “We have kept all workers under observation since they were rescued from the tunnel. No one has reported any ailments,” said RCS Panwar, speaking on the health condition of the 41 trapped workers.

After receiving initial medical care at the Chinyalisaur community health center on Tuesday evening, the workers were undergoing examinations at the center on Wednesday morning. Once the check-up is completed, they will reportedly be sent to AIIMS Rishikesh, following which, they will be allowed to leave for home.

After 422 hours of confinement in the debris, the trapped workers began emerging from the tunnel around 7:45 pm on Tuesday, after which, they were rushed to the health center. In the final breakthrough, twelve "rat-hole miners" used handheld tools to navigate through a wall of rock, mud, and debris. Disaster relief personnel later extracted the workers, who were brought out through a 57-meter-long steel pipe inserted into the expansive tunnel between Silkyara and Barkot.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the 41 workers over phone, took an account of their well-being and lauded them for their grit and resilience. Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the success of the rescue operation, saluting the ‘spirit of all the people associated with this rescue operation.’ “The success of the rescue operation of our labor brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience is inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health. It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones. The patience and courage that all these families have shown in this challenging time cannot be appreciated enough. I also salute the spirit of all the people associated with this rescue operation. His bravery and determination have given new life to our labor brothers. Everyone involved in this mission has set an amazing example of humanity and teamwork,” posted PM Modi.