The rescue at Raniganj was hailed as a monumental achievement. Jaswant Singh Gill became a national hero, affectionately nicknamed "Capsule Gill" for his ingenious invention. In 1991, he was awarded the , India's highest civilian bravery award, by then-President R. Venkataraman. His feat was also recognized by the Limca Book of Records as the most successful and largest rescue operation in the history of Indian mining. In a fitting tribute to his selfless act, Coal India Ltd. declared November 16 as "Rescue Day," a day that is still observed to honor the spirit of courage and innovation that saved so many lives.
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At 7:00 PM on November 14, Gill lowered the capsule into the 12-inch borehole. It descended 110 feet through pitch darkness, splashing into the water below. The first miner—a young man named Ratan Singh—crammed himself inside. His knees were against his chin. His nose touched the steel roof. The rescue at Raniganj was hailed as a
Above ground, a temporary field hospital was set up. Families gathered, chanting prayers. The press arrived, then the politicians. But Shekhawat refused to stop for speeches. By the second night, the water level in the mine began to rise again—a secondary leak had opened. The last miners were standing on a shrinking ledge, water lapping at their chins. The 65th man to ascend was , the unofficial leader. He had insisted on going last. When the capsule finally broke the surface, he was hypothermic and barely conscious. He had spent 47 hours submerged to his neck in coal-black water. Venkataraman
For over six hours, Jaswant Singh Gill remained underground, ensuring that every single one of the 65 miners was sent up to safety before him. He was the last man to come out of the capsule. The first miner to be rescued was a man named Saligram Singh, who emerged just before dawn to the cheers of his family and a crowd that had swelled to over 25,000 anxious onlookers.
Food, water, and lighting were lowered through the borehole immediately. This act alone restored hope among the trapped men. They were no longer alone in the dark.