Mission Raniganj: How real-life hero Jaswant Singh Gill saved the lives of 65 miners

Akshay Kumar, known for his roles in films like Mission Mangal and Kesari, recently took on a new mission in his latest movie, Mission Raniganj: Great Bharat Rescue. film, based on real-life story of mining expert Jaswant Singh Gill, who played a pivotal role in a rescue mission, hit atres on October 5. After mission, Gill received Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Pak from n-President of India, Ramaswamy Venkatraman.

What was rescue mission about? Why was it important and why do people celebrate Gill after mission? Here's everything you need to know about rescue mission and man behind it.

3 things you need to know

• Mission Raniganj: Great Indian Rescue has officially been renamed Mission Raniganj: Great Bharat Rescue.
   
• Mission Raniganj is based on India's first coal mine rescue mission carried out in Raniganj, West Bengal. 
   
• film also stars Parineeti Chopra. This was her first release after her marriage to Raghav Chha.

Who was Jaswant Singh Gill?

Jaswant Singh Gill, born in Amritsar in 1940 began his schooling at Khalsa School. He later studied BSc (non-medical) at Khalsa College in Amritsar and n took mission in Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanb. After completing his education, he joined Coal India Limited in 1973 and kept growing in ranks from 1-9 throughout his tenure. 25 years later, he retired as Engineer-in-chief at Coal India Limited in 1998. However, most significant event in his career was rescue mission at Mahabir Colliery in Raniganj, West Bengal.

What is Mahavir Colliery's rescue mission?

In November 1989, tragedy struck when 232 miners were working in mine during night shift. ir task was to excavate coal using explosive methods in rise-most area of mine with a depth of 320 feet. However, tragedy struck at around 4 a.m. when an unexpected deluge of water inundated mine and it got flooded.

situation was dire, with limited oxygen and constant threat of mine collapsing.

161 miners who were near lifts in pit were rescued immediately, but 71 ors were stranded far away from exits. re was a telephone line connecting m to surface, and it was through this phone that y signalled for help. y sent a message that 65 miners h taken a shelter in a higher part of mine, but six of m were still missing.

In response, authorities formed four teams to rescue trapped miners. Three teams tried different methods, like using pumps to remove water, but it didn't work well. water kept coming back into mine, and re wasn't enough air. mine could collapse at any moment.

n, a senior engineer Jaswant Singh Gill, part of fourth team, h a brilliant idea. He designed a special steel capsule, 7 feet tall and 22 inches wide, to rescue miners. This capsule would be lowered into mine through a new hole, bringing miners up one by one.

In an earlier interview with Tribune, Gill's son Sarpreet Singh Gill said, "My far started to innovate on a oretical idea that h never been put to practical use. It involved fabricating a steel capsule about 7 feet high and 22 inches in diameter, creating a new borehole to lower capsule into mine, and taking out miners, one by one."

In just 72 hours, y built capsule. y tested it, and on November 16, at 2:30 a.m., rescue mission began. Gill insisted on going down into mine himself. After some initial doubts from officials, he entered capsule and began rescue mission. It took him six hours to bring all 65 miners safely to surface, one by one. Initially, each trip in capsule took 15 minutes, but y later used a 12-ton crane to speed things up, reducing time to just 3 minutes.

Around 20,000 people gared in Raniganj to watch rescue. When Gill emerged from capsule after saving everyone, crowd hailed him as a hero. y lifted him on ir shoulders and put garlands around his neck to celebrate his bravery.

“It took me six hours to bring up 65 miners one by one and last of all, when I emerged from capsule, people went m with joy,” Gill told Tribune.

How was Gill rewarded for his brave act?

In recognition of his remarkable act of bravery, Coal India Ltd declared November 16 as 'Rescue Day' and Limca Book of Records recognised this operation as a national record in coal mining history. Moreover, Gill received highest civilian bravery award, Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Pak, from n-president Ramaswamy Venkataraman in 1991.

Jaswant Singh Gill continued with his social welfare work until his passing in 2019, leaving behind a legacy of courage and heroism in face of versity.