Rescue efforts are ongoing to free eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is making its way into the tunnel to evacuate the workers, who have been stranded for almost 48 hours.
Telangana Minister J. Krishna Rao informed the press that the chances of survival for the trapped workers are “not that good” given the current conditions. He explained that debris has accumulated extensively inside the tunnel, making it nearly impassable. According to PTI, Rao, who entered the tunnel himself, said that rescuers are using rubber tubes and wooden planks to maneuver through the rubble.
On Saturday morning, a three-meter section of the roof of an under-construction segment of the SLBC tunnel collapsed at the 14 km point near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana.
The collapse took place just four days after construction resumed following an extended break. Although some workers were able to escape, eight others remain trapped inside the tunnel.
NDRF officials told news agency ANI that the response team is actively working to drain the accumulated water inside the tunnel. However, due to debris obstructing the area, the team has been unable to pinpoint the exact location of the trapped workers.
NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta told ANI that the team had covered approximately 13.5 kilometers into the tunnel, mainly utilizing locomotives and conveyor belts. “Yesterday, around 10 PM, we entered to assess the situation,” he said.
According to the NDRF official, the team covered 13.5 kilometers after entering the tunnel through the gate. “We covered 11 km by train, and the remaining 2 km on conveyor belts and on foot,” Datta added.
The official further stated that the last 200 meters of the collapsed section are completely blocked by debris, making it challenging to determine the condition or exact location of the trapped workers.
“We reached the end of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). We shouted and tried to get a response from the trapped workers, but unfortunately, we couldn’t receive any reply. This is because there is a 200-meter stretch filled with debris. Until the debris is cleared, we won’t be able to determine the exact location of the victims,” said the NDRF Deputy Commandant.
According to the NDRF, the stretch between the 11 to 13 km mark is filled with water. Rescue operations will commence once the water is drained from the area.
Both NDRF and SDRF teams encountered significant challenges in reaching the collapsed section. “There’s no way to access the spot inside the tunnel. It has completely collapsed, and the mud is up to our knees. We will need to take further measures,” an SDRF official said.
According to PTI, the trapped individuals have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu & Kashmir, Gurpreet Singh from Punjab, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand. Among the eight, two are engineers, two are operators, and four are laborers.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari stated that he is closely monitoring the situation after the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana, where eight laborers, including some from Jharkhand, are reported to be trapped. “I am in constant contact with the Secretary there (in Telangana). Chief Minister Hemant Soren has spoken to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy. According to the information, four to five laborers from Jharkhand are stuck. I am keeping track of the situation,” Ansari told ANI.
