Telangana Tunnel Collapse: Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Diminishing Survival Hopes
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Synopsis
As rescue operations persist in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district following a tunnel collapse, hopes of rescuing eight trapped workers are fading. Teams from various agencies are working tirelessly, but challenges such as flooding and debris complicate the efforts.
Key Takeaways
- Rescue operations are ongoing in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district.
- Eight workers remain trapped in a collapsed tunnel, including engineers and machine operators.
- Flooding and debris are significant challenges for rescue teams.
- Ministerial oversight is in place to ensure effective operations.
- All options are being explored to safely recover the trapped individuals.
Hyderabad, Feb 24 (NationPress) The chances of locating eight workers trapped within an under-construction tunnel in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana are diminishing, despite ongoing rescue efforts from teams comprising the NDRF, Army, and other agencies on Monday.
More than 48 hours have passed since a section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapsed, leaving the status of the eight men, which includes two engineers and two machine operators, uncertain.
To augment the rescue mission, teams from the Indian Air Force and Navy are arriving in Srisailam via three helicopters from Visakhapatnam.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were able to reach the tunnel boring machine located at the 14-kilometer mark, but the search efforts were obstructed by large piles of debris.
Floodwaters filled the tunnel for approximately two kilometers, significantly complicating the rescue mission for over 300 responders. Heavy motors were deployed to assist with dewatering.
The operation faced additional hurdles when the loco train intended to access the tunnel malfunctioned at the 11-kilometer mark, prompting ongoing repairs.
Rescue efforts are being diligently coordinated by the NDRF, Army, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) as they work to dewater and desilt the tunnel.
Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao, overseeing the rescue operations, entered the tunnel via a loco train on Sunday.
Upon exiting the tunnel, Jupally Krishna Rao informed the media that the rescue teams had not detected any sounds, which is not an encouraging sign. Nonetheless, he assured that oxygen supplies were being provided inside the tunnel.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that every possible measure is being taken to safely extract the trapped workers. He also mentioned that the possibility of accessing the site by excavating from above is under consideration.
The incident occurred when two workers were injured and eight others became trapped following a collapse in the tunnel near Domalapenta.
At the time of the collapse, a total of 50 workers were present in the left-side tunnel, where a three-meter section of the roof fell in. The accident transpired at the 14-kilometer point.
While 42 workers managed to escape, the remaining eight individuals were left trapped. Those trapped include two engineers and two machine operators.
The eight trapped workers hail from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir.
The trapped individuals include project manager Manoj Kumar (from Uttar Pradesh), machine engineer Srinivas (also from Uttar Pradesh), and machine operators Sunny Singh (from J&K) and Gurpreet Singh (from Punjab).
The four workers from Jharkhand are Sandeep Sahu, Santosh Sahu, Anju Sahu, and Jagta Khes.
The Telangana government has recently resumed construction on the tunnel to finalize this long-delayed project. The construction team had commenced work four days prior, and by Saturday morning, 50 workers entered the tunnel to commence tasks.
