Believe it or not, 'he is different' notion worked throughout !!
PM Narendra Modi kept track of the entire 17-day ordeal vis-a-vis a major rescue operations of our time.
No less than Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr P K Mishra, himself monitored developments and the same review happened at different levels up to the level of Deputy Secretary, Mangesh Ghildiyal.
Mishra and PM Modi monitored the developments starting from Nov 12, 2023 when the news about the mishap was flashed.
A portion of an under-construction tunnel on Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district of BJP-ruled Uttarakhand state had collapsed.
On November 27, Mishra visited the spot and took stock of the situation. He also interacted with trapped workers through the communication line and assured them of their safe rescue.
The tunnel is part of the $1.5bn Char Dham highway, one of PM Modi’s most ambitious projects, aimed at connecting four Hindu pilgrimage sites through a 550-mile network of roads.
The project has faced criticism from environmental experts, who have alleged it is will lead to subsidence and disturbance of the fragile Himalayan region, which is already prone to landslides and earthquakes
Mishra also had directed Mangesh Ghildiyal, Deputy Secretary, PMO, to visit the spot and take stock of the situation. Ghildiyal was stationed in Uttarkashi till the successful completion of the rescue operation on November 28.
Another aide of PM Modi, Bhaskar Khulbe, a former advisor to the PM, was also requested to visit the spot. He too has been camping there and monitoring the day-to-day situation.
Ambulances and doctors at a makeshift hospital were kept on standby. It was a major rescue operation and it goes without stating that at the directives of the PMO, apart from the civil engineering and tunnelling related mobilisation of experts and equipment; the services of people from RVNL, ONGC, SJVNL, THDC and DRDO were enlisted.
Modern tech such as use of drones, robots and endoscopic camera were mobilised with the active support of DRDO. Even some private start-ups were approached.
Several other agencies and organisations such as Indian, Air Force, BRO, NDRF, NDMA, Uttarakhand government, Uttarkashi district administration and private entities were approached and things were taken up on a war-footing.
Sources also revealed that a coordination meeting with all the agencies working at the site was chaired by the Principal Secretary to the PM on November 20 wherein the heads of organisations were instructed to monitor the operations personally.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Anurag Jain were instructed to ensure a green corridor for equipment and machinery which were transported to the spot from various places across the country.
Jain and other officials ensured effective coordination between agencies such as National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, ONGC, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation.
Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain was directed to do media briefing at regular intervals.
At one point, Lt Gen Hasnain said that Uttarkashi tunnel rescue will continue 24/7 till the 41st individual is brought safely.
"This work will continue 24/7. It has gone on. It has gone on 24/7. It will continue 24/7 till the last, the 41st individual is brought out safely. I do want to emphasize that there is a risk to both the individuals who are inside and those who are carrying out the rescue effort. That is one aspect we want to minimize for everyone. We don't want any last minute issues which come up on casualties, etc. Therefore, every precaution is being taken. "
"The success of the rescue operation of our brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health," the Prime Minister tweeted on Nov 28 after the successful completion of the operation.
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