Synopsis
Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy has ordered officials to persist with the ongoing rescue mission in Nagarkurnool's Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel, where eight individuals remain trapped following a roof collapse. He emphasized securing Central government approval and appointing a senior IAS officer to monitor operations.Key Takeaways
- Ongoing rescue operations in SLBC tunnel.
- Eight individuals remain trapped since February 22.
- Approval from Central government is required.
- Utilization of robotic technology for safety in hazardous areas.
- Continuous efforts from various state and Central agencies.
Hyderabad, March 24 (NationPress) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructed officials on Monday to persist with the rescue efforts in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel located in Nagarkurnool district, where eight individuals have been trapped following the collapse of a roof section over a month ago.
In a review meeting held in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister emphasized the need to secure necessary approvals from the Central government to continue the rescue operations.
He also appointed senior IAS officer Siva Sankar Lotheti to oversee the rescue mission continuously.
Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari was ordered to promptly issue the directives accordingly.
The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) reported that officials updated him on the advancements made in the ongoing rescue operations.
Revanth Reddy stated that involved agencies should proceed as per the recommendations of the experts’ committee.
Attending the meeting were Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, and various senior officials.
The incident occurred on February 22, when a section of the tunnel's roof collapsed, trapping eight individuals.
One body, identified as Gurpreet Singh, a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operator from Punjab, was recovered on March 9.
Despite ongoing efforts from several agencies, the search for the remaining missing individuals has not yet been successful due to multiple challenges.
Meanwhile, Nagakurnool district Collector Santosh Badavath reported that excavation at D1 and D2 locations and dewatering in the tunnel are ongoing without interruption. He noted that, aside from areas deemed extremely dangerous, rescue efforts have been intensified.
The official mentioned that cut parts of the TBM were relocated and sludge was removed using jet sprays. Additionally, rescue teams are employing excavators to clear mud from the tunnel via conveyor belts.
Numerous state and Central government agencies continue their relentless efforts to locate the remaining workers.
Rescue teams are digging at locations indicated by sniffer dogs, and robotic technology is being utilized in hazardous TBM areas for enhanced safety.
Various agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), and Anvi Robotics, are actively involved in the rescue mission.
The search operations are concentrated in the last 70 meters of the 14-km-long tunnel, and authorities are optimistic about achieving progress in the days ahead.
The seven missing individuals include Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu & Kashmir, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu from Jharkhand.
