Arnold Dix had prayed on the temple exterior the tunnel for the security of the employees

New Delhi:

The morning after 41 staff trapped inside an Uttarakhand tunnel had been rescued after a 17-day operation, tunnelling knowledgeable Arnold Dix mentioned he has to return to the makeshift temple exterior the tunnel “to say thanks”.

Mr Dix, who grew to become a well-recognized sight on the rescue website in the course of the course of the long-drawn operation, mentioned the profitable rescue of the trapped staff was a “miracle”.

Talking to information company ANI this morning, he mentioned, “Bear in mind, I had mentioned 41 folks (will probably be) residence, and nobody will get harm, by Christmas. Christmas is coming early. We had been calm and we knew precisely what we needed. We labored as a beautiful workforce. India has the most effective engineers. It was a pleasure to be a part of this profitable mission.”

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | On the profitable rescue of all 41 staff from the Silkyara tunnel, worldwide tunnelling knowledgeable Arnold Dix says, “It has been my honour to serve, and as a father or mother, it has been my honour to assist out all of the mother and father getting their… pic.twitter.com/3A7rqf02VR

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

Mr Dix, the president of the Worldwide Tunnelling and Underground House Affiliation in Geneva moreover being a professor and barrister, has been stationed in Uttarkashi ever for the reason that rescue operation started. Helping rescue groups and briefing the media on the progress of the operation, he acquired reward for dashing in to assist amid this disaster.

Yesterday, a video of Mr Dix praying earlier than the makeshift temple for the security of the employees received many hearts. “I’ve to go to the temple as a result of I promised to say thanks for what occurred. If you have not observed, we’ve simply witnessed a miracle,” he mentioned.

The 41 staff had been introduced out one after the other final evening following a difficult operation that suffered a number of setbacks owing to the difficult Himalayan terrain. After a 25-tonne auger machine broke down, handbook drilling by rat-hole mining consultants achieved the duty.

Because the trapped staff had been introduced out, despair turned to pleasure at their properties. Rescue groups working tirelessly regardless of all odds additionally breathed a sigh of reduction.

“It has been my honour to serve, and as a father or mother, it has been my honour to assist out all of the mother and father getting their youngsters residence,” Mr Dix mentioned.

An Australian citizen, Mr Dix additionally earned reward from his nation’s envoy in India. Calling the tunnel rescue operation an “immense achievement”, Australia’s Excessive Commissioner to India Philip Inexperienced posted on X, “Particular commendation to Australia’s Professor Arnold Dix who offered necessary technical help on the bottom.”