Odisha CM Gives Rs 2 Lakh Aid to Odia Workers Rescued from Uttarakhand Tunnel

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik handed over financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the Odia labourers, who were rescued from the collapsed under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand following a 17-day-long rescue operation.

Four of these five rescued Odia labourers, Raju Nayak, Dhiren Nayak and Bisheshwar Nayak of Mayurbhanj, and Bhagaban Bhatra of Nabarangpur reached Bhubaneswar by a special flight from New Delhi on Friday. Tapan Mandal, another Odia worker rescued from the tunnel, has stayed back with one of his relatives in Uttarakhand.

They met the CM Naveen Patnaik at his residence. The CM enquired about their health and the labourers described their 17-day-long ordeal inside the tunnel to him.

CM Naveen Patnaik praised their courage and handed them financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each.

Five Odias were among 41 workers who were trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand when a portion of the tunnel collapsed on November 12. They were rescued on November 28.