(Image source from: Thedailyguardian.com)
Rescue teams are in a race against time to save eight workers who have been trapped for more than 48 hours in a collapsed tunnel in Telangana. A state minister has indicated that the likelihood of their survival is "very, very remote," as a significant accumulation of mud and water complicates the salvage efforts. The tunnel, which was planned to stretch 44 kilometers behind the Srisailam dam in Nagarkurnool, collapsed on Saturday morning while workers were engaged in repairing a leak. Although most workers managed to escape, eight others became trapped and have not been heard from since Saturday. According to state minister Krishna Rao, who is leading the rescue operations, four of the trapped individuals are laborers and the other four are staff from the construction company.
In addition to the local efforts, the Army, National Disaster Response Force, and other state agencies are involved in the rescue mission, with Navy commandos also on-site to lend assistance. A team of six members, known for their bravery during the 2023 Silkyara tunnel operation in Uttarakhand, has joined the ongoing rescue work. The cave-in occurred approximately 13 kilometers from the tunnel's entrance, and rescuers are now about 100 meters away from the trapped workers. However, the minister has pointed out that water and mud are obstructing the rescue efforts. "The accumulation of mud within the tunnel has reached such heights that moving through it has become impossible. Our teams are utilizing rubber tubes and wooden planks to navigate," Mr. Rao explained. "While the chances of survival are very, very remote, we remain hopeful and are exerting maximum effort."
Rescuers have also highlighted the necessity of additional equipment as they confront numerous challenges in extracting the trapped workers. A report from yesterday noted that there were visible cracks in the tunnel walls from which water was flowing, indicating the need for dewatering efforts. Additionally, noises from shifting boulders have raised concerns about the instability of the tunnel's roof in the collapsed section. The situation is being continuously monitored at both central and state levels. Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress party governs Telangana, contacted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy yesterday to inquire about the progress of the rescue operation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged complete support for the efforts underway. According to Mr. Reddy's office, he has been consistently reviewing the developments and gathering information from senior officials. The office noted that he is aware of the existing challenges and has directed the necessary arrangements to drain water from the tunnel and supply oxygen. The Chief Minister's Office reported that rescuers are working to clear the muck and to explore alternative access points to the site of the collapse.
#WATCH | Nagarkurnool, Telangana | Visuals from Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel where rescue operation is underway to rescue the workers trapped inside the tunnel after a portion of the tunnel collapsed on 22nd February.
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2025
Endoscopic and robotic cameras have also been… pic.twitter.com/N0XDxHKNN4
