BOOK REVIEW
Book: The Triumph
of SILKYARA
Author: Prof.
Durgesh Pant
Publisher: Book
World 10-A, Astley
Hall, Dehradun
By Dr S FAROOQ
The Book “The Triumph of Silkyara” written by Prof Durgesh Pant, who is Director General, UCOST, narrates a very successful rescue mission of 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in an unknown village on the China- India border of Uttarakhand. The tunnel was designed to connect Silkyara bend with Barkot in Uttarakhand Hills.
It was a rarest of the rare incident which happened for the first time in the history of India. The whole world was watching the operation and all Media TV, Newspapers were full of coverage every hour, which was not less than an unpredictable war to be won under the direct guidance of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister PS Dhami, those who devoted their valuable time and helped in all the ways to save the lives of 41 poor labourers.
‘The Triumph of Silkyara’ covers the whole operation. It will serve as a historical future document with pictorial proof. In these details covered by Dr Pant, modern machines were used, Plasma cutting operations undertaken and Rat Hole mining method for the rescue operation and will be a guiding factor for the future.
The publication of this book gives a message about use of modern techniques along with traditional method in solving an unprecedented operation.
Dr Pant has also mentioned the names of 12 Rat hole miner team members who contributed to the success of this project. I feel that the names of those 41 trapped workers, who kept their hopes alive with strong will and continued to maintain high spirits until the end, could have been added too. Though the labourers were provided oxygen, liquid and food while trapped and they remained physically and mentally sound is also a great deal.
I am thankful to Dr Durgesh Pant and his team who were involved in this Project which saved precious lives. All credit goes to him for this publication specially for not using it for any commercial or personal purpose.
My best wishes for the successful publication of this commemorative limited edition of 158 pages book on Rescue operations. I urge readers to buy a copy of the Triumph of Silkiyara from Book World, Astley Hall, Dehradun.
