All 41 workers trapped for over 2 weeks in Indian tunnel successfully rescued

The freed workers and rescuers were met with cheers and relief as they were pulled to safety on Tuesday. Sejal Karia reports

Rescuers have successfully freed all 41 Indian workers who had been trapped in a collapsed road tunnel for the past 17 days.

As the first worker was freed, he was draped in a garland as rescuers, relatives and officials cheered.

Locals shouted slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” or “Long live mother India,” as they set off firecrackers to celebrate the rescue.

One of the rescuers, Devender, who only gave his first name, told the New Delhi Television channel that "the trapped workers were overjoyed when they spotted us in the tunnel.

"Some rushed toward me and hugged me."

Workers have been pulled through a passageway of welded pipes, which rescuers previously pushed through dirt and rocks.

Dozens of ambulances equipped with oxygen cylinders were pictured arriving at the site earlier in the day, located in the mountainous region of Uttarakhand in northern India.

A landslide caused part of the road tunnel to collapse on November 12, trapping workers, who managed to survive on a mixture of dry foods such as nuts and hot meals being fed through pipes.

They were also getting oxygen through a separate pipe, and more than a dozen doctors, including psychiatrists, have been at the site monitoring their health.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the rescue has made "everyone emotional" and demonstrated an "amazing example of humanity."

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: "I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience is inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health.

"I also salute the spirit of all the people associated with this rescue operation. Everyone involved in this mission has set an amazing example of humanity and teamwork."

Nitin Gadkari, India's minister of road transport and highways, said that he was “completely relieved and happy” after all workers were rescued from the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi following an ordeal that lasted 17 days.

“I am very happy that all the 41 trapped workers have come out and their lives have been saved,” he said in a video message posted on X.

Gadkari added that “this was a well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies, marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years.”

An array of machinery has been used to excavate the fallen land, and rescuers have been digging both vertically and horizontally to attempt to reach the workers.

Rescuers were forced to work by hand to remove debris in the hoped of reaching the stranded workers, after the drilling machine broke down late last week.

Family members of those trapped have travelled to the location and are camping out nearby as they wait to be reunited with their relatives.

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