Uttarkashi: In a dramatic rescue operation, a group of unconventional “rat miners” played a pivotal role in saving 41 construction workers who were trapped for 17 days in the collapsed Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand, India. The tunnel, a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Char Dham pilgrimage program, caved in on November 12, initiating a challenging rescue mission.
Despite encountering setbacks with heavy machinery failures during excavation attempts, a glimmer of hope emerged when a team of six miners from central India employed the age-old technique of “rat mining.” This manual drilling method, resembling rats burrowing through narrow tunnels, proved to be the linchpin in the successful rescue.
The miners worked tirelessly in two teams, manually drilling through the remaining rock with handheld tools, collecting debris, and pushing it out of the pipe. This painstaking effort took over 24 hours but resulted in the safe retrieval of all 41 workers on Tuesday evening. The rescued individuals were wheeled out on stretchers through a narrow steel pipe, marking a triumphant end to a harrowing ordeal.
The collapse of the tunnel, situated in an area prone to landslides, earthquakes, and floods, underscored the vulnerability of the Himalayan terrain. While authorities did not confirm the exact cause of the collapse, concerns were raised about the lack of emergency exits and construction through a geological fault.
“Rat mining,” a technique historically used in Meghalaya for extracting coal from narrow tunnels, earned its name due to its resemblance to rodents burrowing. Despite being banned in 2014 due to safety issues, it persisted in unregulated mining sectors, leading to controversies and tragedies. The rescued miners, however, stated that they received training in Delhi and were not associated with coal mining.
As the workers emerged from the tunnel, Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed them with traditional marigold garlands. While ambulances and helicopters were on standby, reports indicate that the workers’ health is in excellent condition.
The successful utilization of “rat mining” in this rescue operation underscores the significance of adaptability and unconventional methods in tackling challenging situations. The outcome highlights the resilience and determination of those involved in the mission, emphasizing the heroic efforts of the rat miners in saving lives.
