Telangana Tunnel Incident: Ongoing Search for 7 Missing Workers
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Synopsis
Rescue operations intensify in Nagarkurnool, Telangana, as teams continue to search for the remaining seven workers missing after a tunnel collapse. Following the recovery of one body, efforts are ongoing to locate the others with the aid of specialized equipment and trained cadaver dogs.
Key Takeaways
- Intense rescue operations are underway in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district.
- Seven workers remain missing after a tunnel collapse.
- Cadaver dogs and robotic technology are aiding the search.
- Authorities have recovered the body of Gurpreet Singh, a TBM operator.
- Rescue teams face significant challenges due to debris and slush.
Hyderabad, March 10 (NationPress) Following the recovery of one body from the rubble, rescue teams intensified their efforts to locate the remaining seven individuals trapped in the SLBC tunnel located in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on Monday.
Rescue teams from various organizations were engaged in excavation at another site pinpointed by the cadaver-sniffer dog squad from Kerala.
Rat miners from Uttarakhand, personnel from Singareni Collieries, and members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were meticulously working with mini-excavators around the identified location.
The search operation has continued for the 17th day in the last 70 metres of the 14-km-long tunnel, where eight workers became trapped after a section of the tunnel ceiling collapsed on a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) on February 22.
On Sunday evening, rescue teams unearthed one body from the area identified by the cadaver dog squad.
The deceased was confirmed to be Gurpreet Singh, the 40-year-old TBM operator from Punjab, who was employed by Robbins Company, responsible for supplying and operating tunnel boring machines.
The body was transported to the government hospital in Nagarkurnool, and after fulfilling medical and legal requirements, it was sent to his native place in Punjab.
The seven individuals still unaccounted for include Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.
Rescue teams remain hopeful that more bodies will be recovered soon, aided by the leads from sniffer dogs and the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scanning information from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).
Rescue workers continue to encounter obstacles due to the debris from the TBM and a substantial amount of muck.
The TBM, measuring a total of 132.5 metres, was engulfed by silt and stones during the incident on February 22.
The workers at the front section of the TBM were trapped, while 42 others stationed at the back managed to escape the tunnel.
Technicians from the South Central Railway (SCR) have so far dismantled the TBM into segments totaling about 60 metres.
The head section of the TBM remains concealed under debris, and the final 70 metres of the tunnel is still inundated with 3 to 9 metres of slush and other wreckage, posing a significant threat to rescue operations.
While ongoing dewatering and desilting efforts continue, rescue agencies are mobilizing specialized equipment to ensure workers can operate without the risk of becoming trapped in the slush.
Two cadaver dogs, trained to locate missing persons and human remains, were airlifted from Kerala via a special helicopter three days ago.
Officials report that these Belgian Malinois breed dogs can detect scents even from depths of up to 15 feet.
Agencies involved in the search operation include the Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni, SCR, and various other organizations.
On Saturday, authorities deployed robots for the rescue operations inside the tunnel, as recommended by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during his visit to the site on March 2.
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the introduction of robotic technology to expedite the rescue efforts.
These robots, equipped with cameras, infrared sensors, and robotic arms, have been deployed to evaluate conditions and assist in the extraction process.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed their condolences regarding Gurpreet Singh’s passing and announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for his next of kin.
