The 41 workers, who were rescued from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in a multi-agency rescue operation, kept their spirits up while trapped inside by taking morning walks and practising yoga, a rescued worker told Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The workers hailed Prime Minister Modi, 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 saved Indians abroad, they were within the country.
In his telephonic conversation with the rescued workers late Tuesday night, 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, Modi told the workers, according to a video of the conversation released by the Prime Minister's Office.
Modi said he used to keep seeking information 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, VK (Singh) sahib, Ahmed said.
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.
The workers used to take morning walks in an over 2 km stretch of the tunnel they were trapped in and also practised yoga, Ahmed told the PM.
Another worker 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, Negi told PM Modi.
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.
