In a tragic incident on Saturday, a collapsed tunnel trapped eight workers near the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district. The workers were about 14 kilometers deep inside the tunnel when a section of the roof caved in. As of now, rescuers have not established communication with those trapped and are working tirelessly to rescue them.
Details of the Incident
Around 8:30 AM on Saturday, a portion of the tunnel’s roof collapsed while workers were carrying out excavation activities as part of the SLBC project. The construction of the tunnel, located approximately 120 kilometers from Hyderabad, aims to supply water from the Srisailam reservoir to Nalgonda.
A total of 51 workers were on-site when the collapse occurred. Most workers managed to escape, but eight individuals, including two engineers, became trapped behind a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) around the 14 km point of the tunnel. The trapped workers include Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas, the project engineer and field engineer from Uttar Pradesh, along with six other workers from Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab.
Rescue Efforts Underway
The Nagarkurnool District Collector, B Santhosh, confirmed that rescuers are facing significant challenges in reaching the trapped workers due to the presence of silt in the area. As of now, rescuers have arranged oxygen and power supplies inside the tunnel and are conducting dewatering and de-silting operations to clear the path for rescue teams.
The rescue operation involves several teams, including four NDRF squads, 24 army personnel, and other local responders from the SDRF, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), and an infrastructure firm. The waterlogging near the 13.5 km mark, about 2 km from the collapse site, has slowed the operation. Rescuers cannot move heavy equipment forward because of the water accumulation, which delays efforts to remove debris and free the trapped workers.
An NDRF official explained that additional pumps are being used to speed up the dewatering process. “We cannot proceed further until the waterlogging is cleared. Once the area is dry enough, our heavy equipment can reach the site to start debris removal,” the official said.
Ongoing Updates
Despite the challenging circumstances, rescue teams have managed to advance to the 13.5 km mark of the tunnel. Rescuers called out to the trapped workers, but they received no response, which raised concerns about their condition. However, rescuers remain hopeful that they will be able to reach the final stretch, which is a 200-meter patch, and gain clarity on the trapped workers’ status.
Leaders have expressed concern over the situation. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, reached out to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to receive updates on the ongoing rescue operation. Additionally, the district collector has spoken with Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to ensure they are taking all possible measures.
The situation remains tense as rescuers battle challenging conditions in an effort to save the trapped workers. As more teams join the rescue mission, they hope to clear the waterlogging and silt soon, allowing equipment to reach the trapped individuals. The rescue operations will continue around the clock, with the focus on saving those still trapped inside the tunnel.
