Enhanced Rescue Operations Underway in Telangana Tunnel
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Synopsis
Rescue operations are intensifying in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district, where teams are working to save eight individuals trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel after a partial collapse. Experts are evaluating the conditions, and the government is committed to ensuring the safe recovery of the workers.
Key Takeaways
- Heightened rescue efforts are ongoing for eight trapped workers.
- Experts from NGRI are assessing the tunnel conditions.
- Government has implemented reinforced structures for safety.
- Rescue teams are working around-the-clock.
- Hopes for a breakthrough in the rescue efforts are high.
Hyderabad, Feb 27 (NationPress) Rescue teams have escalated efforts to save eight individuals trapped within the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on Thursday, marking the sixth day following the partial collapse of the under-construction tunnel.
Units from the Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and specialized miners are diligently working to remove silt and debris from the tunnel, aiming to finalize the rescue operation within two days.
Rescue personnel are employing gas plasma cutters to detach damaged components of the tail section of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to facilitate access to the area where the eight workers remain trapped.
Officials have prioritized clearing the access route by eliminating debris and silt. Additionally, workers are striving to ensure that the loco train can reach the end of the tunnel and that the conveyor belt is functional.
Experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) are evaluating the situation inside the tunnel, assessing whether ongoing silt removal could lead to further collapses.
The rescue operation was intensified following a high-level meeting involving military tunnel specialists and state ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, who agreed on implementing a concrete action plan.
The review meeting concluded with a decision to proceed with comprehensive dewatering and desilting.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the government is committed to rescuing the trapped workers, emphasizing that rescue teams are working tirelessly.
He expressed optimism that a breakthrough in reaching the trapped individuals could occur “very soon.”
“With the heightened rescue efforts, deployment of elite forces, and new technological interventions, we anticipate a breakthrough in accessing the trapped workers shortly,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy.
The Minister conveyed hope that the rescue operations would be concluded within two days, mentioning that new strategies are being employed to tackle challenges within the tunnel.
As part of the enhanced rescue operations, the government has also implemented reinforced support structures to stabilize the pathway leading to the TBM, ensuring safe navigation for rescuers through the tunnel.
“Officials have been directed to expedite debris removal and reinforce compromised tunnel sections to avert any secondary collapses,” stated Uttam Kumar Reddy.
The government is also seeking assistance from experts experienced in tunnel construction in border regions and those who participated in rescue efforts following similar tunnel incidents across the country.
Rescue teams had encountered challenges advancing further due to 7-9 meter high silt in the final 40-meter stretch over the past two days.
The incident transpired 14 km inside the tunnel. Although rescue teams reached 13.5 km, they have been unable to progress further due to mud, debris from the TBM, and water seepage.
