You

Write a complete SEO-friendly blog post on "workers By Soutik Biswas India correspondent Rat miners" stand before they begin manual drilling as rescue operations are in progress after workers got trapped in a collapse of an under-construction tunnel, in Uttarkashi in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, November 27, 2023. IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, A dozen so-called 'rat-hole' miners cleared the last stretch of debris to reach the trapped workers 29 November 2023 "I removed the last rock and saw them. Then I went to the other side. They hugged us, lifted us. And thanked us for taking them out," Munna Qureshi told reporters on Tuesday evening after coming out of a Himalayan tunnel in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. He was among a dozen or so workers who cleared the last stretch of debris by hand to help free 41 workers who had been trapped in the under-construction 4.5km (3-mile) Silkyara tunnel for more than 16 days. A landslide had caused a portion of the tunnel - part of the $1.5bn (£1.19bn), 890km-long flagship Char Dham project to connect key Hindu pilgrim sites - to cave in on 12 November. Mr Qureshi, 29, has been described by officials and media alike as a "rat-hole" miner and hailed as "the hero of the rescue operation". He and his mates crawled into the 800m pipe and cleared the 12m debris of the last stretch in under 18 hours, according to Lt-Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, a senior official overseeing the operation. They were "confident and nonchalant" about the work they were doing, willing to "go in with anything... no special tools as such", he told NDTV. Miners employing the hazardous "rat hole" technique engage in the excavation of narrow, purpose-built pits in the ground, large enough for one person to go down and extract coal. The nimble miners - usually slim boys and men - carry loads of wet coal in baskets up on wooden slats flanking the walls of these mines, mostly found in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya. The Supreme Court banned it in 2014, but it continues illegally. In this photograph taken on January 31, 2013, a miner slowly carries a heavy load of wet coal on a basket hundreds of feet up on wooden slats that brace the sides of a deep coal mine shaft near Rimbay village in the Indian northeastern state of Meghalaya. Thousands of private mines employ slim men and boys that will fit in thin holes branching out from deep shafts dug out from the ground in the East Jaintia Hills in Northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, 'Rat-hole' mining was used to extract coal from narrow and deep mines in Meghalaya In January 2019, some 15 miners lost their lives when they were trapped for more than a month in one such mine. "Once we went down, there was hardly any light streaming in from above," a man who left his job at a 'rat-hole' mine in Meghalaya told the BBC in 2019. "The mines I had worked in earlier were only about 30ft (9m) deep. But this was far more dangerous. It was nearly 400ft deep." In Uttarakhand, engineers believe, labelling the rescue workers who entered the pipe as "rat-hole miners" may not be entirely accurate. They call them manual excavators, who go into tight spaces to clean and carry out repairs - most of the so-called 'rat-hole" miners at the tunnel worked in cities fixing water and sewer pipes. Skilled tunnelling mechanics and manual excavators had to be deployed at least thrice during the operation to clear blockages in the tunnel. The first time it happened was last week when the main auger drilling machine broke down inside the tunnel, engineers said. There are two essential parts of the machine: the auger or rotating spiral blades that do the actual drilling and the machine itself, powered by an internal combustion engine, an electric motor or hydraulic power. A handout photo made available by Uttarakhand"s Department of Information and Public Relation (DIPR) shows workers following their rescue from inside the under-construction Silkyara tunnel on the Brahmakal Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi, India, 28 November 2023." in 2023 with a human touch, writing in British English in 1000 words. Make sure to use the "workers By Soutik Biswas India correspondent Rat miners" stand before they begin manual drilling as rescue operations are in progress after workers got trapped in a collapse of an under-construction tunnel, in Uttarkashi in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, November 27, 2023. IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, A dozen so-called 'rat-hole' miners cleared the last stretch of debris to reach the trapped workers 29 November 2023 "I removed the last rock and saw them. Then I went to the other side. They hugged us, lifted us. And thanked us for taking them out," Munna Qureshi told reporters on Tuesday evening after coming out of a Himalayan tunnel in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. He was among a dozen or so workers who cleared the last stretch of debris by hand to help free 41 workers who had been trapped in the under-construction 4.5km (3-mile) Silkyara tunnel for more than 16 days. A landslide had caused a portion of the tunnel - part of the $1.5bn (£1.19bn), 890km-long flagship Char Dham project to connect key Hindu pilgrim sites - to cave in on 12 November. Mr Qureshi, 29, has been described by officials and media alike as a "rat-hole" miner and hailed as "the hero of the rescue operation". He and his mates crawled into the 800m pipe and cleared the 12m debris of the last stretch in under 18 hours, according to Lt-Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, a senior official overseeing the operation. They were "confident and nonchalant" about the work they were doing, willing to "go in with anything... no special tools as such", he told NDTV. Miners employing the hazardous "rat hole" technique engage in the excavation of narrow, purpose-built pits in the ground, large enough for one person to go down and extract coal. The nimble miners - usually slim boys and men - carry loads of wet coal in baskets up on wooden slats flanking the walls of these mines, mostly found in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya. The Supreme Court banned it in 2014, but it continues illegally. In this photograph taken on January 31, 2013, a miner slowly carries a heavy load of wet coal on a basket hundreds of feet up on wooden slats that brace the sides of a deep coal mine shaft near Rimbay village in the Indian northeastern state of Meghalaya. Thousands of private mines employ slim men and boys that will fit in thin holes branching out from deep shafts dug out from the ground in the East Jaintia Hills in Northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, 'Rat-hole' mining was used to extract coal from narrow and deep mines in Meghalaya In January 2019, some 15 miners lost their lives when they were trapped for more than a month in one such mine. "Once we went down, there was hardly any light streaming in from above," a man who left his job at a 'rat-hole' mine in Meghalaya told the BBC in 2019. "The mines I had worked in earlier were only about 30ft (9m) deep. But this was far more dangerous. It was nearly 400ft deep." In Uttarakhand, engineers believe, labelling the rescue workers who entered the pipe as "rat-hole miners" may not be entirely accurate. They call them manual excavators, who go into tight spaces to clean and carry out repairs - most of the so-called 'rat-hole" miners at the tunnel worked in cities fixing water and sewer pipes. Skilled tunnelling mechanics and manual excavators had to be deployed at least thrice during the operation to clear blockages in the tunnel. The first time it happened was last week when the main auger drilling machine broke down inside the tunnel, engineers said. There are two essential parts of the machine: the auger or rotating spiral blades that do the actual drilling and the machine itself, powered by an internal combustion engine, an electric motor or hydraulic power. A handout photo made available by Uttarakhand"s Department of Information and Public Relation (DIPR) shows workers following their rescue from inside the under-construction Silkyara tunnel on the Brahmakal Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi, India, 28 November 2023." keyword in every paragraph.

Title: Heroic Rat Miners: A Tale of Courage and Resilience in Uttarakhand

In the remote northern state of Uttarakhand, India, a gripping rescue operation unfolded as workers faced a life-threatening situation in the under-construction Silkyara tunnel on November 27, 2023. Trapped for over 16 days due to a landslide, 41 workers awaited salvation in the 4.5km-long tunnel, a crucial part of the $1.5bn Char Dham project.


The hero of this remarkable rescue, Munna Qureshi, a 29-year-old "rat-hole" miner, emerged as a symbol of courage. Alongside a dozen colleagues, he manually cleared the last debris-strewn stretch, crawling through the 800m pipe in under 18 hours. Qureshi shared his emotions, stating, "I removed the last rock and saw them. They hugged us, lifted us. And thanked us for taking them out."

Rat-Hole Mining and Its Perils

Rat-hole mining, a hazardous technique banned by the Supreme Court in 2014 but persisting illegally, involves excavating narrow pits for coal extraction. Typically performed by nimble miners in Meghalaya, these individuals navigate confined spaces, carrying loads of wet coal in baskets. The dangers associated with this method were tragically highlighted in January 2019 when 15 miners lost their lives after being trapped for over a month.


In Uttarakhand, however, labeling the rescue workers as "rat-hole miners" might not entirely capture their expertise. Engineers prefer the term "manual excavators," highlighting their experience in tackling tight spaces for cleaning and repairs. Many of these workers had backgrounds in urban areas, specializing in fixing water and sewer pipes.

The Unyielding Spirit of Rescue Workers

Lt-Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, a senior official overseeing the operation, commended the rescue team's confidence and nonchalant approach. They were ready to "go in with anything" and lacked special tools, demonstrating a resilience that proved crucial in the race against time.


Throughout the operation, skilled tunnelling mechanics and manual excavators were deployed multiple times to clear blockages. Last week, when the main auger drilling machine malfunctioned inside the tunnel, these experts swiftly intervened. The machine, comprising the rotating spiral blades for drilling and powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor, encountered challenges that required human expertise.

In conclusion, the Silkyara tunnel rescue showcased the extraordinary bravery of individuals like Munna Qureshi, defying the dangers of "rat-hole" mining. Their tenacity, coupled with the adaptability of manual excavators, became the beacon of hope that led to the successful extraction of the trapped workers. This incident not only highlights the perils of unconventional mining methods but also underscores the unsung heroes who risk their lives for the safety of others.

In the heart of Uttarakhand, where adversity struck, the resilient spirit of the workers prevailed, turning a potential tragedy into a testament to human courage and solidarity.

 information.