Telangana Tunnel Incident: Silt and Debris Clearance Underway
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Synopsis
As rescue operations continue in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district, efforts to clear silt and debris from the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel are in full swing. Eight individuals remain trapped, and advanced technology is being utilized to facilitate their rescue.
Key Takeaways
- Rescue teams are actively working to clear the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel.
- Advanced equipment like gas plasma cutters is being used for debris removal.
- The operation is supervised by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy.
- Collaboration involves multiple agencies, both national and international.
- Rescue efforts are expected to conclude within two to three days.
Hyderabad, Feb 27 (NationPress) Rescue teams are actively engaged in efforts to clear silt and debris from the partially-collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel located in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district, as the operation to save eight trapped individuals approaches its final stages on the sixth day this Thursday.
Members from the Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local rat hole miners are diligently removing the accumulated silt and debris from within the tunnel.
The teams are utilizing gas plasma cutters to detach damaged sections of the tail end of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to facilitate access to the area where the eight workers are trapped.
Additionally, the rescue workers are working to ensure that the loco train can reach the end point and that the conveyor belt becomes functional.
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, overseeing the rescue operations, mentioned that plasma cutters, high-grade shutters, and advanced debris removal machinery are being utilized, with international experts monitoring the operation's strategy. He also noted that dewatering processes have been restarted to clear blockages.
The minister shared on X that a multi-agency rescue operation is currently in progress at the tunnel, with the nation's finest experts and the latest equipment deployed to rescue the trapped workers.
He anticipates that rescue and relief operations will be completed within two to three days, and tunnel work will resume in two to three months.
Authorities have imposed restrictions at the site following a visit by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders, led by former minister T. Harish Rao, amidst heightened tensions.
Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that precautionary measures were instituted at the site to safeguard both workers and rescuers.
The minister described the incident as one of the most intricate and challenging tunnel accidents in Indian history, highlighting that for the first time, numerous national and international agencies have collaborated under a unified command for the rescue operation.
"Eleven leading agencies specializing in tunnel disasters are orchestrating the operation with exceptional coordination and expertise. Rescue teams are working continuously, utilizing the most advanced technology and equipment to safely extract the trapped workers," he stated.
"This operation is extremely demanding, and the top experts in the field are involved. They are working tirelessly, putting their own lives at risk to complete this rescue," he added.
The minister also revealed that once the workers are rescued, the government will ensure that tunnel operations resume within the next two to three months and are finished within the required time frame.
He criticized Harish Rao’s visit to the tunnel, accusing him of engaging in politics. He held the previous BRS government accountable for the tunnel disaster, asserting that if dewatering had been addressed earlier, the accident could have been avoided.
Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out that the previous administration neglected the project, which is intended to transport 30 TMC of water through gravity. Upon completion, it will irrigate 4.50 lakh acres.
Experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) assessed conditions inside the tunnel and will provide recommendations to involved agencies to prevent any further collapses during the rescue operation.
Previously, decisions were made to initiate comprehensive dewatering and desilting efforts, accompanied by a detailed action plan.
The government is also consulting with experts experienced in constructing tunnels in border regions and those who have participated in rescue missions following similar tunnel accidents in other areas of the country.
Rescue teams faced challenges advancing further over the last two days due to silt levels ranging from 7-9 meters in the last 40-meter stretch.
The accident transpired 14 kilometers inside the tunnel. While rescue teams had reached 13.5 kilometers, they could not progress further for the last two days due to mud, debris from the TBM, and water seepage.
