INDIA. Mumbai: The Khiladi of Bollywood is all set to essay the role of a real-life hero, Jaswant Singh Gill. A biopic named, ‘Capsule Gill’ will be made which will have Akshay Kumar in the titular role opposite Parineeti Chopra. Gill was the additional chief mining engineer in the Raniganj area of West Bengal. At Eastern Coal Field Ltd.’s Mahavir Colliery, 65 trapped miners were saved due to his bravery and well-organized plan of action.
This rescue operation was recorded on November 13, 1989. Recently a picture surfaced online that showed Kumar in a Sikh role wearing a turban with heavy beards.
The 1989 mining incident
In the mining industry, India made mining history in 1989 when 65 trapped miners trapped below the surface were rescued through a large diameter borehole drilled from the surface.
According to an interview given by Gill, colliers were trapped underground while the water table was abutting where they were working cracked after a blast and water surged in.
At the time of the catastrophe, Gill was posted as the Additional Chief Mining Engineer at the Raniganj area of West Bengal, pioneered the collier and was the collier’s back safety. 220 miners were working at the site, out of which six miners working at the site lost their lives. Those closest to the lift were quickly pulled out but 64 men were still trapped.
“The authorities had different approaches. First, they tried to use pumps to reduce the water level inside the mine. But this didn’t work effectively. However, it would have taken them at least 60 to 90 days to get the water out.”
Gill, the engineer in charge, instructed the authorities to build multiple bore wells in order to communicate with the miners and deliver them supplies of food and water.
Gill further added, “We drilled another well to send a rescue capsule to pull them out. A 2.5 m tall steel capsule was fabricated on the spot. It was attached to an iron rope and crane to be lowered into the pit. I volunteered to go down for this rescue mission.”
Such passion and courage for duty are found rare. The hero of all times became the only ray of hope in times of emergency. Mr Gill’s proposal of designing an iron container gave him the prestigious name of “Capsule Gill’. His achievement is recognized in the “Limca Book of Records” as the national record holder for the most successful & largest rescue operation in mining history.
He received a lifetime achievement award from Coal India Ltd. Coal India Ltd. celebrates “Rescue Day” on November 16. The President of India presented Gill with the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak in 1991.
India will soon witness the entire incident on the big screen. This movie will be made under the banner of Vashu Bhagnani’s Pooja Entertainment. As per the reports, the team is currently shooting in the United Kingdom.
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