Reliance Jio swiftly established mobile infrastructure near the collapsed Himalayan tunnel, aiding the rescue of 41 trapped construction workers within 12 hours. The remote Uttarakhand region faced weak signals, prompting authorities to seek the telecom operator’s assistance in bolstering network coverage. Despite challenges like no power, lack of poles, and poor road connectivity, Reliance successfully provided voice and data services.
In a post on X, Reliance shared images of the mobile tower and highlighted the dedication of the Jio team working alongside rescue operations. The company expressed honor in swiftly restoring essential connectivity in the challenging vertical location.
The trapped construction workers, stuck 260 meters inside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel since November 12, faced peril after a part of the tunnel collapsed due to a landslide. Thanks to a successful rescue operation by NDRF and SDRF teams, all 41 workers were extracted. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and other officials were present at the rescue site.
Notably, the rescue effort involved collaboration with ‘rat-hole’ miners from Uttar Pradesh and the Army. Their joint efforts focused on manually burrowing through the remaining 10-12 meters of rubble, securing the workers’ freedom. The Silkyara tunnel, integral to the Char Dham all-weather accessibility project, is under construction by Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company Limited.
