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The air in Uttar Pradesh was filled with festivity and joy as news of the 41 workers emerging from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand after a harrowing 17-day ordeal reached their families. In places like Motipur Kala, a Tharu village near the Indo-Nepal border in Shravasti district, families erupted with joy, exchanging greetings, and bursting crackers to celebrate the safe return of their loved ones.
Six individuals from Motipur Kala, who had ventured to Uttarkashi in August for better job opportunities, were among the workers trapped in the tunnel collapse on November 12. The news of their rescue brought relief and happiness to their families, who had been anxiously following updates through cell phones.
For these families, the rescue marked a “new dawn” after the incident had cast a shadow over their Diwali celebrations. The village, having refrained from festivities on Diwali due to the unfortunate event, now embraced the joyous atmosphere.
Ram Sundar’s mother, Dhanpati, expressed her joy by planning a feast for the villagers, while Santosh’s family distributed sweets to mark their happiness. Families eagerly awaited the return of their loved ones, with children like six-year-old Surabhi excited to be reunited with their fathers.
In Gharwaspur village of Mirzapur district, the Singh family’s faces lit up with joy upon learning of Akhilesh Singh’s safe return. Special prayers and rituals were conducted in gratitude at Akhilesh’s house, expressing thanks to the divine for the safe rescue.
Similar scenes of joy unfolded in Lakhimpur Kheri’s Bhairampur village, where Manjeet Chauhan’s family distributed sweets and expressed profound gratitude to the engineers, government, and all involved in the rescue operation.
The successful operation in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel not only brought relief to the rescued workers but also ushered in Diwali celebrations that had been postponed by the shadow of the recent crisis.
