The 41 workers freed from the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel late Tuesday endured 17 days in an underground prison – a circumstance guaranteed to test the resolve of most and which called for a strong leader to help the men stay calm. That figure was Gabbar Singh Negi – who was born 260 km away in Pauri Garhwal district and had the unfortunate distinction of been in three collapsed tunnels.

Over the 400+ hours the men spent buried – nearly 200 feet in the ground – Mr Negi taught his colleagues yoga and meditation, ensured they stayed physically and mentally active, and underlined his commitment to their safety by telling them he would be the last to be rescued.

“‘I am senior-most… I will be the last to come out…’, this is what he told me,” a smiling and visibly relieved Jaymal Singh Negi, his brother, told NDTV Wednesday morning, hours after all 41 men were extracted and given extensive medical check-ups to ensure they had suffered no injuries.

READ | Trapped Workers Safe, Focus Now On What Led To Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse

That all 41 survived the disaster with few injuries, and emerged with big smiles, is due, in no small part, to the effort of Gabbar Negi in keeping a potentially catastrophic situation under control.

“I am very happy… the family is very happy. Not just the family but the whole country… the whole country prayed for them. When they came out and we saw they were safe, we distributed sweets and garlands,” Jaymal Negi, who has been at the tunnel collapse site for two weeks, told NDTV.

READ | “Will Go Home, Rest For 2 Months”: Rescued Worker Narrates 17-Day Ordeal

“I kept talking to him daily. First through the pipes they put into the ground but then with phones that they gave us. I advised my brother to do yoga. He said, ‘yes, we are all doing it’.” Mr Negi said.

With a big grin on his face, Jaymal Negi told NDTV of his brother’s bravery. “He is very brave. When I asked him if there will be a stampede when the rescue starts, he told me, ‘I am senior, I will be last’.”

“He told me they had made a list and that there will be order.”

And it isn’t just Jaymal Negi who has spoken in praise of his brother’s leadership qualities.

Several of the rescued workers NDTV spoke to highlighted Mr Negi’s role in keeping them safe and happy, which included playing games like ludo and chess. One of the psychiatrists at the site, Dr Rohit Gondwal, told news agency PTI the trapped workers were also playing ‘chor police’.

READ | “There’s Food For 25 Days Still Inside Tunnel”: Rescued Worker Exclusive

Mr Negi’s bravery was also commended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke to the rescued workers via telephone last night and told them, “It is a matter of happiness for me… I cannot express it in words. If something bad had happened… (I) can’t say how we would have taken that.”

The Prime Minister commended Mr Negi for his bravery.

One of the rescue workers, Akhilesh Singh, told NDTV he was on his way home when the tunnel collapsed; this was on November 12, as the rest of the country was busy celebrating Diwali.

READ | “Practised Yoga, Took Walks”: Rescued Workers Interact With PM

All 41 men were safely pulled out Tuesday night after “rat hole” miners – practitioners of a mining process banned by the government in 2014 because it is unsafe – did what high-tech drilling machines could not – break through the final 10-12 metres of rock and debris to free the workers.

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The main trailer for BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star, a docuseries about the South Korean boy band, has been released. The upcoming series will give fans the opportunity to delve into the journey of the group’s seven members – Jin, Jimin, V, J-Hope, RM, Suga and Jungkook – as they navigate the ups and downs of their ten-year career.

The newly released trailer begins with the members during their debut era, with RM establishing the mood, saying “It was my belief that these guys had to debut no matter what. We worked our tails off, life was difficult.” The scene then shifts to Suga playfully considering the idea of running away. The next scenes depict the group’s steady rise to fame, celebrating achievements, winning major awards and more. 

The docuseries will also chronicle the group’s struggles during the pandemic when their concerts were cancelled. The members learnt more about themselves and later showcased the Permission to Dance concerts, their online concerts and more.

War 2 is one of the most anticipated movies. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film will see Hrithik Roshan reprise his role as Kabir. Now, it looks like there’s an update on the film’s release date.

As per reports on a leading news portal, Hrithik Roshan’s War 2 will be released on August 14, 2025, just in time for Independence Day festivities. An official announcement is awaited. 

War 2 will also feature RRR star Jr NTR. The actor will reportedly play the antagonist and go up against Hrithik’s Kabir. Hrithik seemingly confirmed his part in the film when he wished Jr NTR on his birthday with a message that reads, “Happy Birthday @tarak9999 ! Wishing you a joyous day and an action-packed year ahead. Awaiting you on the yuddhabhumi my friend. May your days be full of happiness and peace… until we meet Puttina Roju Subhakankshalu Mitrama.” 

War 2 will join the larger YRF Spy Universe which features Salman Khan’s Tiger films and Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan.