Rescue Operations Underway for Eight Trapped in Telangana Tunnel Collapse
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Synopsis
Rescue efforts are in full swing to save eight individuals trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district. Teams from NDRF, the Army, and other agencies are working tirelessly to clear debris and pump out water to reach the victims. The situation remains critical as officials explore potential solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Rescue teams are actively working in Telangana.
- The collapse occurred in an under-construction tunnel.
- Efforts involve dewatering and clearing debris.
- Eight individuals remain trapped in the tunnel.
- Authorities are utilizing advanced technology for rescue operations.
Hyderabad, Feb 23 (NationPress) Rescue teams from the NDRF, the Army, and other agencies are actively working to save eight individuals trapped in a collapsed under-construction tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district. They are engaged in pumping out water and clearing debris.
The teams are racing against the clock to reach the 14th-kilometre point where the roof of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapsed on Saturday.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) are making strenuous efforts.
Approximately 250 personnel from the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force, along with 24 personnel each from the Army, SCCL, and HYDRAA, are tackling the challenge of dewatering and desilting the tunnel over a length of about 100 metres to reach the trapped individuals.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is overseeing the rescue operation, mentioned that every effort is being made to safely extract the trapped men, and the possibility of accessing them by digging the tunnel from above is being considered.
"All necessary equipment and cutting-edge technology are being utilized. The Army is involved in the rescue operations, and assistance from the Navy is also being requested," he informed the media.
NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta indicated that the operation is challenging due to the tunnel being filled with water for nearly two kilometres.
"Our heavy machinery cannot reach the site of the accident. Water must be pumped out before we can deploy equipment to clear the debris," he explained.
He added that rescue teams had called out to the trapped individuals but received no response. "We cannot determine the whereabouts or condition of the trapped men," he stated.
Fishing boats, tyres, and wooden planks are being mobilized to aid rescue workers in crossing the flooded sections of the tunnel.
At least two workers have been injured and eight others trapped following the collapse of a section of the tunnel being excavated for the SLBC near Domalapenta.
Out of the 50 workers present in the left-side tunnel at the time, 42 managed to escape while eight became trapped. Those stuck include two engineers and two machine operators from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir.
Nagarkurnool district Collector Badavath Santosh confirmed that efforts to dewater and desilt the area are ongoing.
Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Reddy convened a meeting with officials from the NDRF, Army, and other involved agencies.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his dismay over the incident and pledged that the government would provide all possible assistance to the victims' families.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Chief Minister to inquire about the incident and assured full support from the Central government.
Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi contacted the Chief Minister on Sunday to seek updates on the rescue efforts.
The state government had recently resumed construction on the tunnel, which had been a long-pending project. The construction firm had begun work just four days prior, with 50 workers entering the tunnel that Saturday morning.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that work on the tunnel commenced following a survey conducted by the Geological Survey of India. He assured the media that the contractor involved has a solid track record in tunnel excavation.
He noted that shortly after work began on Saturday morning, water began to flood the tunnel, causing soil to cave in. "Workers who managed to escape reported hearing an explosion, possibly due to a geological disturbance," he said, adding that those positioned in front of the boring machine were trapped within the tunnel.
