17-day ordeal ends with hugs and cheers as all 41 workers evacuated from Uttarakhand tunnel

The 17-day intense rescue operation came to an end Tuesday night as all the 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel were evacuated safely. (PTI photo)

It was a test of grit and perseverance – for men on both sides of the 57 metres of debris. (PTI Photo)

The successful rescue operation, that lasted for 400 hours, had suffered setbacks one after the other. (Uttarakhand State Department of Information and Public Relations via AP)

In the end, with the drilling machine giving way, it was the rat-hole miners who dug through the last 12 metres and reached the trapped men. (PTI Photo)

Around 8 pm, the first worker was rescued and taken to a medical centre in the ambulance. (PTI Photo)

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister of State General (Retd) VK Singh were seen meeting the workers who were rescued. (PTI Photo)

As part of the rescue operation, a temporary medical facility had been set up inside the tunnel. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

According to sources, PM Modi is likely to go to the hospital to meet the workers. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

The relatives of the workers being taken out were also present at the site. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

The rescue teams had achieved a breakthrough around 1:10 pm on Tuesday at the partially-collapsed tunnel. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Earlier in the day, ambulances were seen lined up at the mouth of the tunnel. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

SDRF officials were seen carrying mattresses inside the tunnel for the workers. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

The rescue operation involved the use of heavy excavators, elaborate plans on several fronts, cooperative efforts by several organisations, and eventually manual drilling for over 21 hours by “rat-hole miners”. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Locals gathered to watch the rescue operation at the tunnel site. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

The rescued workers will be taken to the Chilyanisaur Community Health Centre (CHC), where a seperate section with 41 beds has been prepared. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)