PM Thanked God, Rescued Workers Thanked PM, Said Yoga, Meditation Kept Them Going

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Nov 29: An emotion-filled Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked God for the safe evacuation of all the 41 workers trapped in the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand for the last 17 days and commended their courage and the leadership quality of some of them for keeping them going during those very difficult days.

The Prime Minister, who had a telephonic conversation with the rescued workers late on Tuesday night after the doctors certified them to them fit and in good spirit, was told by the workers that they kept their spirits up while trapped inside by taking morning walks and practising yoga.

The person who told them to take morning walks and practice yoga and meditation was Gabbar Singh Negi – who was born 260 km away in Pauri Garhwal district and had the unfortunate distinction of been in three collapsed tunnels. Over the 400+ hours the men spent buried – nearly 200 feet in the ground – Mr Negi taught his colleagues yoga and meditation, ensured they stayed physically and mentally active, and underlined his commitment to their safety by telling them he would be the last to be rescued.

To keep their spirits up, Negi had told all his colleagues that being the senior most he would be the last to try to come out of the hole once the efforts succeeded and the opening was made.

The workers hailed Prime Minister Modi, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and rescue teams for their efforts, with one of them saying they had nothing to worry as when the government could save Indians abroad, they were at least within the country and had full faith that they would be rescued sooner or later.

In his telephonic conversation with the rescued workers Mr Modi told them, “I congratulate you on coming out safely after being in danger for so many days. It is a matter of happiness for me and I cannot express it in words. If something bad had happened, can’t say how we would have taken that. It is God’s grace that all of you are safe. Seventeen days is not a short time. You all showed a lot of courage and encouraged each other,” Mr Modi told the workers, according to a video of the conversation released by the Prime Minister’s Office. Mr Modi said he used to keep tabs about the operation and was in constant touch with the Chief Minister. “My PMO officials also were sitting there. But worry is not lessened by just getting information,” the PM said.

A worker from Bihar, Saba Ahmed told the Prime Minister that though they were stuck in the tunnel for days, they did not feel any fear or nervousness. “We were like brothers, we were together. We used to take a stroll in the tunnel after dinner. I used to tell them to do morning walks and yoga. We would like to thank the Uttarakhand government, especially the CM, V.K. (Singh) sahib,” Mr Ahmed said. The workers used to take morning walks in an over 2 km stretch of the tunnel they were trapped in and also practised yoga, Mr Ahmed told the PM.

Mr Modi also lauded Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways of India Gen (retd) V.K. Singh, saying he showed his training of a soldier.

Gabbar Singh Negi from Uttarakhand thanked the PM and CM Dhami, the company he works for, the Central government and rescue teams that worked day and night on the rescue operation. “When we have you as the PM and people were saved from other countries, we were in our country and therefore we had nothing to worry about,” Mr Negi told PM Modi.

Mr. Modi said he wanted their medical check-up to be done first before speaking with them and the doctors had told him that all the workers were in good health and fit. He also told them that the chief minister will make arrangements for them on their onward journey back to their homes.

Mr Modi also lauded the leadership and courage of the two workers. While hailing the patience of the family members of the trapped workers, the Prime Minister asserted that 140 crore Indians were worried about the safety of the workers.

Another worker, Akhilesh Kumar from Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur, hailed CM Dhami, saying he spoke with the workers constantly. He said he was happy to know that so many people outside felt relieved and elated at their rescue.

Sonu Sah from Bihar’s Chapra also thanked the PM and the rescue teams. The prime minister extended his best wishes to the rescued workers for their future endeavours. The conversation concluded with the rescued workers chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and the Prime Minister saying the country will be inspired hearing their slogans.

Rescue workers on Tuesday night pulled out all 41 workers trapped in the tunnel in a multi-agency rescue operation that hovered between hope and despair for almost 17 days. Instead of being brought out on wheeled stretchers through a steel tube that lined the 60-metre rescue shaft, the labourers crawled out of it, according to Dhami.

He and Union Minister Singh welcomed the workers as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) men helped them in getting out safely. An ambulance with the first of the 41 workers left the mouth of the tunnel around 8 pm, about an hour after rat-hole mining experts dug through the last stretch of rubble.

There was hugging and cheers as the ordeal ended. Some local villagers burst crackers. Outside the tunnel, some chanted ‘Har Mahadev’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, and slogans in praise of Prime Minister Modi and Dhami. A portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand’s Char Dham route collapsed on November 12, blocking the exit of the workers who were inside. Food, medicines and other essentials were sent to them through a six-inch pipe pushed through the debris.

Jaymal Singh Negi, brother of Gabbar Singh, who stayed put at the tunnel head for over a fortnight as the rescue operations progressed, said his brother ensured that they stayed physically and mentally active, and underlined his commitment to their safety by telling them he would be the last to be rescued.

“‘I am senior-most… I will be the last to come out…’, this is what he told me,” a smiling and visibly relieved Jaymal Negi said. “I kept talking to him daily. First through the pipes they put into the ground but then with phones that they gave us. I advised my brother to do yoga. He said, ‘yes, we are all doing it’.” Mr Negi said.

With a big grin on his face, Jaymal Negi talked about his brother’s bravery. “He is very brave. When I asked him if there will be a stampede when the rescue starts, he told me, ‘I am senior, I will be last’.”

It isn’t just Jaymal Negi who has spoken in praise of his brother’s leadership. Several of the rescued workers also highlighted Mr Negi’s role in keeping them safe and happy, which included playing games like ludo and chess. One of the psychiatrists at the site, Dr Rohit Gondwal, said the trapped workers were also playing “chor-police.” Negi’s bravery was also commended by the Prime Minister.