Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: ‘Rat-hole miner wins over machines’

The collaborative effort involving multiple agencies successfully rescued the 41 trapped workers on Tuesday, overcoming numerous challenges. Despite encountering several obstacles, social media widely applauded the rat-hole miners for their skillful execution of the intricate rescue operation.

Feroze Qureshi and Monu Kumar, experts in the rat-hole mining technique, were the first to meet the 41 labourers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel on Tuesday night.

Querishi and Kumar were part of a 12-member team of rat-hole mining technique experts who were called on Sunday to do the drilling after an American auger machine came across hurdles while clearing the rubble.

Qureshi told media that as soon as he reached the tunnel, the workers hugged him and held him on his shoulder.

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Human Triumph Over Machines

The rat-hole miner added that he will never forget the respect they (trapped workers) gave to him.

Qureshi shared, “After clearing the final rock, I could spot them. I moved to the opposite side, and they embraced us, lifting us up. They expressed gratitude for our efforts in bringing them out. We worked tirelessly over the past 24 hours. Words can’t capture my joy. I did it for my nation.”

Qureshi is an employee of Delhi-based Rockwell Enterprises and an expert in tunneling work.

“They (the labourers) gave me almonds and asked my name,” another rat-hole miner Kumar said.

The leader of the 12-member team from Rockwell Enterprises, Wakeel Hassan, said he was approached for help by a company involved in the rescue operation four days ago.

Users on social media platform X praised the rat-hole miners for their heroic efforts in saving the lives of 41 trapped workers. One individual expressed on X, “Indian Jugad ‘Rat-Hole-Mining’ prevails over Giant Augur machine! Kudos to the 12 experts for their unconventional approach that successfully rescued 41 miners in Uttarkashi! A salute to the families of miners for their patience and the National Disaster Management team.”

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About rat-hole mining:

Rat-hole mining is a controversial and hazardous procedure in which miners in small groups go down narrow burrows to excavate small quantities of coal. This rat-mining method has faced severe criticism due to its hazardous working conditions, environmental damage, and numerous accidents leading to injuries and fatalities. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the practice in 2014 and retained the ban in 2015.