Rescue Efforts in Telangana Tunnel to Accelerate with New Strategy, No Signs of Trapped Workers
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Synopsis
The rescue operation for eight individuals trapped in the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel in Telangana is set to accelerate, with hopes of completion in two days. Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasizes a new action plan focusing on dewatering and desilting to expedite efforts.
Key Takeaways
- Intensified Rescue Operations: New strategies to expedite rescue efforts for trapped workers.
- Expert Involvement: National and international tunnel experts being consulted.
- Comprehensive Plan: Full dewatering and desilting to be implemented.
- Safety Emphasis: Operations conducted without compromising worker safety.
- Challenging Conditions: Continual mud and water seepage hindering progress.
Hyderabad, Feb 26 (NationPress) The initiative to save eight individuals trapped in the partially-collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district will be escalated, with state Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy expressing optimism that it will conclude within two days.
He informed the media that the rescue operations, entering their fifth day on Wednesday, will be accelerated. Teams will now implement a concrete strategy to access the accident site through the accumulated silt.
During a review meeting with various agency officials and rescue experts, it was decided to undertake comprehensive dewatering and desilting.
The meeting concluded that all silt must be entirely removed. The Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force, and other rescue teams will carry out the plan without jeopardizing the lives of the trapped workers. Assistance from rat miners will also be sought.
The minister noted that specialists in tunnel construction from border areas and those who have participated in similar rescue missions across the country are being incorporated into the operation.
"The top experts in the nation, alongside serving and retired Army personnel, were invited. They entered the tunnel and assessed the situation before exiting," stated the minister.
Rescue teams are also considering recommendations from international tunnel experts to advance their efforts.
Uttam Kumar Reddy mentioned that gas cutters would be employed to detach parts of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) which suffered damage after a section of the roof collapsed on February 22.
Previously, a team of rescue workers from various agencies managed to navigate the last 40-metre stretch and return, but there remains no update concerning the eight trapped individuals.
Earlier, tunnel specialists from the Border Security Force (BSF) were engaged to aid in reaching the head section of the TBM.
In a prior review meeting with Telangana ministers, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, senior officials involved in the rescue mission indicated that efforts were ongoing to clear the slush to access the last 40 metres.
This segment has been filled with mud and debris, compounded by ongoing water seepage, preventing rescue workers from making progress for over 24 hours.
A rat miner team also entered the tunnel for evaluation. Their representative informed the media that the TBM was not visible and feared it might be buried beneath the mud.
Rescue teams from the NDRF, Army, Navy, and other agencies have faced difficulties advancing further due to 7-9 metre high mud while continuous water seepage has rendered the entire operation perilous for the rescue personnel.
In response to a request from Telangana, the National Disaster Management Authority has enlisted the National Remote Sensing Centre and the Geological Survey of India to conduct a surface and subsurface evaluation of the incident site. This assessment is crucial for ensuring the safety of the teams engaged in rescue efforts.
Incorporating experts from various agencies nationwide and utilizing advanced equipment have not proved beneficial in what is considered the most challenging tunnel rescue operation in India.
The incident transpired 14 km into the tunnel. While rescue teams reached 13.5 km, they have been unable to proceed further for the last two days due to mud, TBM debris, and water seepage. The Navy’s special forces unit, Marcos, also encountered difficulties navigating through the slush.
Rescue personnel report that additional soil is collapsing from fresh cavities at the precise location of the tunnel collapse, further contributing to the mud. With slush comprising more than 70 percent, Navy divers have been unable to traverse through it.
Over 100 hours post-accident, the odds of survival for the trapped individuals are considered slim.
Meanwhile, Jaypee Group founder Jaiprakash Gaur visited the tunnel on Wednesday, claiming they are exhausting all efforts to rescue the trapped individuals. Jaypee is the contractor for the SLBC project.
Gaur stated that upon completing the rescue operation, the company would resume work on the project. He mentioned having faced such incidents during tunnel construction, noting this is the sixth or seventh accident in his career.
