Telangana Tunnel Collapse: Ongoing Rescue Efforts Yield No Survivors Yet
Click to start listening
Synopsis
As rescue efforts continue in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district for eight workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel, the situation remains grim with no signs of life after more than 60 hours. Teams employ advanced technologies to aid in the search amidst challenging conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Location: Telangana, Nagarkurnool district
- Rescue Operation: Over 300 rescue workers engaged
- Technology Used: Endoscopic and robotic cameras
- Challenges: Flooded tunnel and debris
- Government Oversight: Ministers monitoring operations
Hyderabad, Feb 24 (NationPress) The ongoing rescue operation in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district aims to save eight workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel that experienced a partial collapse on Saturday. As of Monday night, there are still no indications of survivors.
Over 60 hours have passed since part of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel fell, leaving the fate of the eight workers—comprising two engineers and two machine operators—uncertain.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, and various agencies are working tirelessly to remove water and debris from the tunnel near the collapse site.
On Monday, two teams from construction giant Larsen & Toubro joined the rescue efforts, utilizing advanced technologies such as endoscopic and robotic cameras to detect any movements of the trapped individuals.
This technology was previously used in the successful rescue of 41 workers trapped for 17 days following the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand in 2023.
Rat miners involved in the Silkyara rescue operation are now assisting the NDRF, Army, and other teams in this critical endeavor.
Nagarkurnool district's Collector, Badavath Santosh, indicated that rescuers need to navigate an additional 40 meters to reach the collapse site, which is filled with debris, complicating the rescue process.
The tunnel is currently inundated with water over a stretch of approximately two kilometers, posing significant challenges for over 300 rescue workers. Heavy pumps were deployed to assist with dewatering.
The NDRF, the Army, the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) are all engaged in rigorous efforts to remove water and debris from the tunnel.
Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, along with senior officials, are closely monitoring the rescue activities.
After exiting the tunnel, Jupally Krishna Rao informed the media that the likelihood of finding the trapped individuals alive is very slim, as the rescue team called out their names with no response.
The incident resulted in two injuries and left eight workers trapped when a segment of the tunnel being excavated for the SLBC collapsed near Domalapenta.
At the time of the collapse, 50 workers were present in the left-side tunnel, and the roof fell by three meters at the 14 km mark.
While 42 workers managed to escape, eight remain trapped, including two engineers and two machine operators.
The trapped workers hail from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir.
Among those trapped are project manager Manoj Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), machine engineer Srinivas (Uttar Pradesh), and machine operators Sunny Singh (J&K) and Gurpreet Singh (Punjab).
The four workers from Jharkhand include Sandeep Sahu, Santosh Sahu, Anju Sahu, and Jagta Khes.
The Telangana government recently resumed construction on the tunnel to expedite the completion of this long-delayed project. The construction team had initiated work just four days prior, with 50 workers entering the tunnel on Saturday morning.
