NDRF Amplifies Rescue Efforts for 8 Individuals Trapped in Telangana Tunnel
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Synopsis
On February 23, NDRF intensified rescue operations in Telangana to save eight workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel. Teams are working tirelessly to manage water and mud, ensuring the safe extraction of the individuals.
Key Takeaways
- NDRF teams are working around the clock.
- Eight individuals remain trapped due to a tunnel collapse.
- Rescue efforts are complicated by water and mud accumulation.
- State and central government officials are involved in the rescue.
- Trapped workers hail from multiple states.
Hyderabad, Feb 23 (NationPress) The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams escalated their rescue operations on Sunday to save eight individuals trapped in an under-construction tunnel following a roof collapse in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on February 22.
Four teams, consisting of 150 personnel, were actively engaged in the rescue efforts, which continued throughout the night.
The teams have made significant progress and are nearing the site where the tunnel roof collapsed during the excavation activities on Saturday.
At least two workers sustained injuries, and eight others became trapped when a segment of the tunnel, part of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), collapsed near Domalapenta.
A total of 50 workers were on-site in the left-side tunnel when a three-meter section of the roof fell at the 14th km marker.
While 42 workers managed to escape, the remaining eight, including two engineers and two machine operators, remain trapped.
The NDRF team, which traveled up to the 11th km via a loco train, discovered that there was water and mud beyond this point, with approximately three feet of water accumulated in the tunnel. The NDRF personnel proceeded on foot, moving closer to where the tunnel roof had collapsed.
The tunnel boring machine suffered severe damage during the incident, as water rushed from the tunnel roof and soil displaced the machine by up to 80 meters.
Water and mud accumulation on both sides of the machine has complicated the rescue operation. Officials noted that pumping out the water and clearing the mud is essential for further progress.
Previously, three NDRF teams arrived from Vijayawada, while four teams came from Hyderabad. Teams from the Indian Army and Singareni Collieries Company Limited, along with the State Disasters Response Force (SDRF), were also involved in the rescue efforts.
The trapped individuals hail from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir.
State Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Reddy monitored the rescue operations alongside the district collector, superintendent of police, and other senior officials.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his shock at the incident and assured that the government would provide all possible assistance to the victims' families.
The state government had recently restarted construction on the tunnel to complete this long-awaited project. The construction firm commenced work four days prior, and on Saturday morning, 50 workers entered the tunnel.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the tunnel work started following a survey by the Geological Survey of India. He informed the media that the contractor has a solid track record in tunnel excavation.
He mentioned that shortly after work commenced on Saturday morning, water began flooding the tunnel, and soil collapsed. 'The workers who managed to escape reported hearing an explosion, possibly due to geological disturbances,' he explained, adding that those at the front of the boring machine were trapped inside the tunnel.
'The government is making every possible effort to rescue the trapped individuals. We are bringing in the best tunnel experts in the country to oversee the rescue operation,' he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to inquire about the situation.
The Prime Minister assured that the NDRF team would be deployed immediately for rescue operations and promised all assistance from the central government.
