From Rescue to Recognition: 12 Rat Miners Awarded Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak

Nearly three years after their extraordinary role in saving 41 trapped workers during the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand, 12 rat miners have been honoured with the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, India's highest civilian bravery award for life-saving acts.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari presented the medals, certificates and miniature decorations to the awardees at a ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday, recognising their exceptional courage during one of the country's most complex rescue operations.

The labourers had remained trapped for 17 days after a section of the under-construction 4.53-km Silkyara tunnel collapsed in November 2023. After advanced drilling equipment encountered difficulties, the experienced rat miners voluntarily entered the narrow debris-filled passage and manually cleared the final stretch, creating a safe path that enabled the successful evacuation of all the workers.

Calling the mission one of India's most challenging rescue operations, Gadkari said it received continuous attention at the highest level, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi closely monitoring developments and ensuring every available resource was mobilised to bring the trapped labourers out safely.

The minister highlighted the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHIDCL, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Indian Army, the Uttarakhand government, and technical experts from across the country. A crucial breakthrough came after a pipeline was inserted through the collapsed section, allowing food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies to reach those trapped underground.

Gadkari said the rat miners displayed exceptional bravery, selflessness and commitment, risking their own lives in hazardous conditions to save others. Their courage, he added, would remain an enduring example of public service and humanity for future generations.

Each awardee also received a lump-sum monetary allowance of Rs 2 lakh, transferred online by the government. The completed Silkyara tunnel, finished in April last year, is expected to shorten the Gangotri-Yamunotri route on the Char Dham corridor by around 25 kilometres, improving connectivity in Uttarakhand.