SILKYARA SAGA

 

 

 

 

AS THE trapped workers emerged with relief-triggered smile on their faces, from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, the entire nation smiled with them. The 17-day roller-coaster ride of hope and despair came to an end on November 28. And, what a ride it has been, not only for the trapped workers waiting to be pulled out but also for the Indians alert to even the smallest update in this regard. The fact that all 41 trapped workers were evacuated unscathed, speaks of the grit of Indian nation and willingness of all the agencies involved to leave no stone unturned. Right from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to the other Central and State agencies, locals, and those associated with the tunnel project, family members of the trapped workers, everyone worked in sync with each other. Their one spiritual and emotional whole formed the core of the efforts on the ground. The family members of the workers exhibited firm faith in the men and machinery at work, the men were sure of their capability, and the workers stayed positive about their rescue. All these worked wonders and were rightfully acknowledged by the President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, and others. The Governments did not leave any stone unturned in making efforts to save the lives of the trapped workers.

 

They tried with equipment available within the country, brought in experts and equipment from elsewhere, tried all possible options of drilling and reaching out to the trapped workers, made arrangements for food, water, medicines for the trapped workers, established communication with them, kept their morale high. Bringing in the rat-hole miners when other options got stuck, did the job finally. Rat-hole mining is still outlawed in the country since the National Green Tribunal order of 2014. Still, when they were roped in, the rat-hole miners did a splendid job and saved lives. Their feat of digging last 12 metres’ stretch in 24 hours did the magic. This makes the case for regulating such techniques and making their good use when time comes, instead of imposing bans. For common people, trapped workers and their family members, the rat-hole miners are the saviours and not outlaws. This calls for exercise of rationality as far as imposing ban on practices that could have potential good use is concerned. Despite all these, sadly, some political leaders facing identity crisis resorted to cheap gimmickry.

 

They abused the entire Silkyara tunnel episode to target Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, the ruling dispensation at the Centre and in Uttarakhand. The ecosystem nurtured by them, instead of rejoicing and feeling proud that all the trapped workers were rescued alive, began attempts to find out something negative, and started deliberating on ‘what went wrong’. This exposed their mindset of finding opportunity in even disasters to play devious political games. This denigrated their position in the public eye, much to their own peril. When the entire nation stood as one and prayed for safe rescue of the trapped workers, these people isolated themselves from the public mood. It is this isolation and failure to gauge the public sentiment of the nation that has damaged their prospects in the past few years. Their failure has done more damage to them than the success of others. Of course, keeping aside the political rubble, what needs to be celebrated is the collective success in the rescue, and the patience and persistence. For, the larger Silkyara saga is to be remembered and petty politics is to be forgotten in the annals of country.