12 rat miners who saved 41 trapped workers in Silkyara awarded Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak

Twelve 'rat-miners' have been honored with the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak for their extraordinary bravery during the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation. These miners painstakingly drilled through rock, mud, and debris to save 41 workers trapped after a major collapse in the under-construction tunnel in November 2023.

The award ceremony took place in the national capital, where Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, presented the prestigious awards. The recipients, including Vaqeel Hasan, Munna, and Mohd Rashid, were recognized for their "exceptional courage and selfless service" during the challenging rescue mission in Uttarakhand.

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The miners’ bravery and willingness to risk their own lives to save others reflected the highest ideals of public service and humanity.

Each awardee received the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, a certificate, a miniature medal, and a monetary award of ₹2 lakh, transferred online. Minister Gadkari lauded the miners' bravery, stating that their willingness to risk their own lives to save others exemplified the highest ideals of public service and humanity. He described the Silkyara tunnel collapse as one of the most difficult rescue operations in recent years, acknowledging the deep concern it caused nationwide. The minister also highlighted the close coordination among various agencies, including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHIDCL, BRO, the Indian Army, and the Uttarakhand government, in devising the rescue strategy.

The rescue operation faced numerous hurdles. A 12-member team of rat-hole miners was eventually brought in to clear the final 12 meters of a 57-meter-thick wall of debris. Equipped only with shovels, spades, hammers, and drills, these 12 men worked for nearly 24 hours to successfully complete the task, ensuring the safe extraction of the trapped workers.

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The Silkyara tunnel collapse was one of the most challenging rescue operations in recent years, noting that the incident had caused deep concern across the country.