Telangana Tunnel Collapse: Survival Chances ‘Bleak’ for 8 Trapped Workers as Silkyara Team Joins Rescue
A devastating tunnel collapse in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district has left eight workers trapped for over 48 hours, with their survival chances described as “very remote” by Telangana Minister J Krishna Rao. The incident occurred on Saturday during repairs on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project, a 44-km-long tunnel behind the Srisailam dam. While some workers managed to escape, eight were trapped deep inside the tunnel, approximately 13 kilometers from the entrance.
A massive rescue operation is underway, involving around 300 trained personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, and Singareni Collieries. The rescue teams have reached about 13.5 kilometers inside the tunnel but are hindered by water and debris, making progress slow. Advanced technology, including endoscopic and robotic cameras, has been deployed to aid in the rescue efforts.
In a bid to enhance rescue efforts, a team of rat miners who successfully rescued workers in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel collapse in 2023 has joined the operation. Their expertise is crucial in navigating through tight spaces and debris.
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The tunnel’s condition poses significant challenges. Muck has piled up to nearly 25 feet in a 30-foot diameter tunnel, making navigation extremely difficult. Rescuers are using rubber tubes and wooden planks to move forward. Despite these efforts, no communication has been established with the trapped workers, further complicating the rescue.
The situation remains critical, with the coming days being crucial in determining the fate of the trapped workers. The rescue mission is expected to take at least three to four days to reach its final stage. Despite the bleak outlook, authorities are committed to exhausting all options to save the trapped individuals.
