TRANSCRIPT
Celebrations among family after rescue workers completed one of the most significant and complicated evacuations in India's recent history.
Forty-one workers have been pulled from inside a collapsed tunnel in the Himalayas after rescuers drilled through the debris of rock, concrete and earth to reach them.
The men, who were low-wage workers from some of India's poorest states, were stuck inside the tunnel in Uttarakhand state for 17 days after it caved in on November the 12th.
Manmohan Singh Rawt was involved in the rescue operation.
“I was so emotional and happy that I was going inside the tunnel to safely rescue the 41 men. I went inside with all my dedication and grit. All the 41 workers inside the tunnel were chanting only one thing, "Hail NDRF" ((National Disaster Response Force)). And they were so elated to know that we rescuers had finally reached them for their help.”
The 41 men were pulled out on wheeled stretchers through a 90 centimetre wide steel pipe, with the entire process being completed in about an hour.
Once it became clear the operation had been successful, the families of the rescued workers began their celebrations - including one of their mothers, Choudhraain.
“I am extremely happy that my son has safely come out of the tunnel. We are celebrating Diwali today because I came to know about this sad news of my son being trapped in the tunnel on the day of the festival. So, we did not celebrate it at all. We did not light the lamps or offer prayers.”
The first man to be evacuated was welcomed with marigold flowers inside the tunnel by state chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Some others were hugged by the minister, while others made gestures of thanks with clasped hands or sought blessings by touching his feet.
Chief Minister Dhami says it was an emotional moment.
“I have met everyone one by one and also met those labour brothers who came out. Everyone said that they never faced any kind of problem inside. Certainly, it is a matter of great relief for us that even after such a big disaster, all the people were able to come out safely.”
Australian man Arnold Dix is the President of the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association.
He was involved in the operation after being asked to fly to India to help, telling the A-B-C he arrived to a sombre mood.
“I went and had a look. And I just felt that we'd be able to get the men out. And so the press were all jumping around and I got mobbed by the press and they're all really angry because the men had been trapped for quite a while but they weren't out. So I just said to them 41 men are coming home and no one's gonna get hurt. And they sort of looked at me as if I was a complete lunatic, and I said, when they went in, they danced for Diwali. Well, they'll be home and able to sing for Christmas.”
Authorities haven't said what caused the cave-in but the region is prone to landslides, earthquakes and floods.
A member of a panel of experts investigating the disaster has told Reuters the tunnel didn't have an emergency exit and was built through a geological fault.
But for now, Mr Dhami says the rescued workers will travel to their home states after doctors clear them, while investigations continue.
“Right now we will work only on the basis of the doctors' advice. Based on that, after that they will have to be sent home or whatever has to be done, first they will be kept under medical supervision. They will be monitored. After that further action will be taken.”
