NDMA hails team effort in Silkyara rescue Ops, ‘People were ready to volunteer for free’

People were eager to volunteer for free to contribute in the rescue operations of the 41 trapped workers in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, said NDMA member Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) speaking exclusively to Republic Network’s Editor-In-Chief Arnab Goswami. He further added people were ready to help no matter how small their contribution.      

“They were volunteering from all over India, my mobile phone was absolutely paralysed and jammed. The kind of messaging I was getting, offering of help, free of cost. We enabled some of the best talent to move to the spot. Some people are camping there (at the tunnel site even till today), the officials of the Indian Army. They did a marvellous job. Anyone who had something small to offer was coming forward. This is the kind of team effort that was taking place,” said Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.)

#TunnelVictory | People were volunteering from all over India to offer help free of cost: Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (@atahasnain53), NDMA Member

Tune in to watch and fire in your views and Arnab will read it out during the Motorola moment - https://t.co/isrfjPLnK7… pic.twitter.com/OGFNx77dlm

— Republic (@republic) November 28, 2023

‘PM Modi personally monitored the rescue Op’: NDMA member

“PM Modi was personally monitoring the rescue operations throughout. I was in touch with his Principal Secretary. PMO played a huge role as an enable. All states plus Indian Air Force played a big role too,” He added.

After the rescue operation was over, addressing the press conference, CM Dhami said "I want to thank everyone related to this rescue operation. PM Modi constantly was enquiring about the operation. Even today he has said that everyone should get the best medical treatment. In the coming time, we will also review all the tunnels in Uttarakhand and the Government of India has done a safety audit so that we do not have to face such situations in future."

"I wish all the labour brothers the best for their bright future," he added.

A portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, trapping 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure.