Rescue Efforts Persist on Day Four of Telangana Tunnel Incident

Hyderabad, Feb 26 (NationPress) The rescue efforts are ongoing for the fourth consecutive day to locate eight individuals trapped within the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district. A final stretch of 40 metres filled with mud and debris continues to obstruct the rescue teams engaged in this extensive operation.

Rescue squads from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Navy, and other organizations have faced challenges in progressing due to the 7-9 metre high mud mound. The ongoing seepage of water has rendered the operation perilous for the rescuers.

Officials indicated that without the removal of mud and debris, reaching the area of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) where the eight individuals are believed to be trapped is impossible. This incident occurred on February 22, when the tunnel’s roof collapsed.

Despite bringing in experts from various agencies nationwide and utilizing advanced equipment, the operation remains one of the most challenging tunnel rescues in India.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy convened with officials from different agencies to evaluate the situation and discuss future strategies.

Ministers were briefed that without removing the slush and conducting dewatering, rescue teams cannot progress to the precise location of the accident where two engineers, two technical staff, and four workers are trapped.

The incident took place 14 km into the tunnel. Although rescue teams made it to 13.5 km, they have been unable to advance for the past two days due to mud, debris from the TBM, and water seepage. The Navy’s special forces divers, known as Marcos, were unable to navigate through the slush.

Rescue personnel report that additional soil is collapsing from new cavities at the tunnel collapse site, increasing the mud volume. With slush levels exceeding 70%, Navy divers find it impossible to proceed.

After more than 100 hours since the accident, the likelihood of survival for the trapped workers is deemed slim.

The Border Road Organisation is set to join the rescue efforts on Wednesday.

This large-scale operation includes the Army, Navy, SDRF, National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation, Singareni Collieries Company Limited, L&T, and HYDRAA.

Authorities have engaged experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), National Geographical Research Institute (NGRI), and the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) to evaluate the situation and recommend a course of action for the rescue operations.

Disaster Management Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar remains in charge of supervising the rescue efforts alongside other senior officials.

The TBM is believed to have split in two following the tunnel roof collapse on the morning of February 22.

The tail section of the TBM was located 50 metres from the end of the 14 km tunnel. The head section is equipped with a safe container for workers to seek refuge during emergencies. It remains unclear whether the trapped individuals managed to access the container when the roof collapsed and water seepage intensified.

Meanwhile, Jaypee Group founder Jaiprakash Gaur visited the tunnel on Wednesday, affirming that they are making all possible efforts to rescue the trapped individuals. Jaypee is the contracting firm responsible for the SLBC project.

Gaur indicated that following the conclusion of the rescue operation, the company would resume work on the project.