Hyderabad, March 4 (NationPress) The rescue efforts in the partially-collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel located in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district are anticipated to gain momentum following the activation of the conveyor belt on Tuesday.

Thanks to the technical team successfully repairing the conveyor belt, rescue teams will be able to hasten the removal of excavated silt and debris from the accident scene, where eight individuals have been trapped for the past 11 days.

The conveyor belt malfunctioned when a section of the tunnel’s ceiling collapsed on February 22, entrapping eight individuals, including two engineers and two machine operators.

This incident transpired 14 kilometers within the tunnel while the workers were engaged in excavation tasks using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).

The operational status of the conveyor belt is vital for accelerating the transportation of excavated debris, construction materials, or other essential supplies within the tunnel, thus aiding in locating the missing workers, as stated by officials.

The conveyor belt system is designed to ensure smooth and efficient material transport, facilitating continuous progress in the tunnel's construction or maintenance efforts.

The situation of the eight individuals, who are from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir, remains uncertain as multiple teams from two central agencies and the state government persist in their rescue operations on day 11.

The teams are engaged in desilting and machine-cutting at the locations determined by the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), following a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scan of the accident site two days prior.

Disaster Management Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar, along with Nagarkurnool District Collector Badavath Santosh and other officials, is overseeing the rescue efforts.

Officials confirmed that the dewatering operation is proceeding rapidly.

The Army, Navy, NDRF, SDRF, HYDRAA, Singareni Mines Rescue, Fire Services, South Central Railway, and additional agencies are actively participating in the rescue operations.

Officials mentioned that advanced technology is being employed under expert supervision to clear mud, sludge, and concrete debris from the tunnel.

To avert further water ingress into the SLBC tunnel from above and both sides, as well as to eliminate the water that has already accumulated, specialized machinery has been deployed for continuous operation, ensuring that the rescue efforts proceed smoothly.

During his visit to the tunnel on Sunday, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy proposed the utilization of robots in the tunnel. Authorities are currently examining the feasibility of this suggestion.

The Chief Minister indicated that experts have not yet reached a conclusion regarding whether the eight missing individuals are alive or deceased.

He mentioned that it may take an additional 2-3 days for rescue workers to determine the situation.