Second Cadaver Retrieved from Telangana Tunnel
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Synopsis
On March 25, 2023, rescue teams recovered a second body from a collapsed tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district, following a tragic incident where eight individuals were trapped. The body was identified as project engineer Manoj Kumar from Uttar Pradesh. Ongoing rescue efforts are hampered by water seepage and hazardous conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Second body recovered from Telangana tunnel.
- Manoj Kumar identified as deceased engineer.
- State to provide Rs 25 lakh to victim's family.
- Rescue operations face challenges from water seepage.
- Multiple agencies involved in ongoing search efforts.
Hyderabad, March 25 (NationPress) Over a month since a segment of the tunnel's ceiling collapsed in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district, leading to the entrapment of eight individuals, rescue teams successfully extracted a second body on Tuesday.
The remains were recovered from the partially-collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in the afternoon and transported to a government hospital in Nagarkurnool. The deceased has been identified as project engineer Manoj Kumar from Uttar Pradesh.
After the autopsy, the body will be returned to the family. Nagarkurnool district Collector Badavath Santosh announced that the state government would provide Rs 25 lakh to the deceased's family.
This marks the second body recovered since the incident that transpired on February 22.
The first body, that of Gurpreet Singh, a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operator from Punjab, was found on March 9.
Efforts to locate the remaining missing individuals are being challenged by ongoing water seepage and sludge.
On Tuesday morning, rescue workers digging in the last 50 meters of the 14-km-long tunnel detected a foul odor near the loco train track and notified the authorities.
Various organizations involved in the rescue operation commenced excavation around the area and unearthed the body.
Multiple entities, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), and Anvi Robotics, are actively participating in the search for the remaining six individuals.
The missing persons include Sri Niwas (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu, all hailing from Jharkhand.
Rescue teams continue digging at locations identified by the cadaver dog squad from Kerala. In risky areas near the TBM, robotic technologies are being employed for safety.
During a review meeting in Hyderabad on Monday, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy instructed officials to accelerate rescue operations.
He directed Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari to appoint senior IAS officer Shiva Shankar Loteti as a Special Officer to oversee the rescue efforts.
Officials reported to the Chief Minister that 25 agencies, including various central and state government branches and private entities, are engaged in the rescue operations, with a total of 700 personnel involved.
Rescue teams are working to clear debris from collapsed rocks, dismantle TBM components, and remove mounds of soil, silt, and water from the tunnel.
They noted that operations are delayed due to inadequate air and lighting conditions, as the accident site is located 14 kilometers from the tunnel's entrance. Approximately 30 meters of the accident zone has been deemed extremely hazardous. Officials clarified that rescue efforts must adhere to the scientific assessments of the Geological Survey of India and the National Geophysical Research Institute.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to procure all necessary permissions from the Union government for emergency operations within the tunnel.
