At the star-studded CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2023 on Wednesday, the Heroes of Uttarkashi received special recognition and thunderous ovation.
Rat miners Munna and Wakil, foreman Gabbar Singh Negi and his colleague Saba Ahmed, and Director General (DG) of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Atul Karwal were among the heroes who accepted the medal from MoS Jitendra Singh.
“The brief was rescue them at any cost. The whole nation was behind us. It was a huge thing. We were given what seemed like a blank cheque. Nature kept throwing challenges, but eventually the mountain relented and let us go,” Karwal told the media.
In addition to saying that the endeavor demonstrated “the spirit and eternity of Bharat,” Singh noted that they are receiving recognition on behalf of all Indians.
“It was a tough time, we had lost touch with everybody. The workers on the outside knew of the support. Our spirits were going low as we didn’t know all this. Every worker wanted to know when he would be out,” Negi said.
Actor Shah Rukh Khan complied with Wakil and Munna’s request for a selfie, saying they were overjoyed by the support and honor.
After a 17-day ordeal, 41 workmen who were trapped in the Silkyara tunnel were freed in November 2023. After 400 hours, they were saved because of the combined efforts of twelve state and center agencies. Politicians and other national leaders praised the rat-hole miners for their contribution to the rescue effort.
The CNN-News18 Indian of the Year award, now in its 13th year, honors Indians who have made noteworthy contributions to a variety of professions and who have had a significant influence on the country. CNN-News18 Indian of the Year, hailed for its unquestionable integrity, has established itself as the largest award in the world of news television since its founding in 2006.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, cricket player Virat Kohli, the Indian women’s cricket team, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), music legend AR Rahman, chess grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, boxer MC Mary Kom, actress Deepika Padukone, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are just a few of the notable individuals who have received the Indian of the Year award over the years.
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Uttarkashi heroes get special mention at CNN-News18 Indian of The Year 2023
