Telangana: Rescue efforts are in full swing to evacuate the eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is advancing cautiously into the tunnel, where the workers have been stranded for nearly 48 hours. The situation remains critical, with officials expressing concern over the chances of survival.
Telangana Minister J. Krishna Rao, who visited the site, described the conditions inside the tunnel as extremely challenging. "The accumulation of muck has made movement nearly impossible. Rescuers are using rubber tubes and wooden planks to navigate through the debris," Rao told reporters, as quoted by PTI.
The Tunnel Collapse: What Happened?
The incident occurred on Saturday morning when a three-meter section of the tunnel's roof collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district. The collapse came just four days after construction work had resumed following a prolonged hiatus. While some workers managed to escape, eight remain trapped inside.
Key Developments in the Rescue Operation
Obstacles in Rescue Efforts: NDRF officials have been working tirelessly to clear the accumulated water inside the tunnel. However, due to debris blocking the pathway, the exact location of the trapped workers remains unconfirmed.
NDRF’s Progress: NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta stated that rescue teams have covered approximately 13.5 km inside the tunnel, using locomotives and conveyor belts to advance. "We inspected the situation inside around 10 PM last night," Datta told ANI.
Limited Accessibility: Teams from both the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have faced major challenges in reaching the collapsed section. "The tunnel has completely caved in, and mud levels are knee-deep, making access extremely difficult. We need to explore alternative strategies," an SDRF official reported.
Identification of Trapped Workers: According to PTI, the eight trapped individuals have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu & Kashmir, Gurpreet Singh from Punjab, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand. Among them, two are engineers, two are machine operators, and four are laborers.
Government Monitoring: Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari has been closely monitoring the situation, particularly as several trapped workers hail from his state. "I am in constant contact with officials in Telangana. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has also spoken to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy regarding the situation," Ansari told ANI.
Indian Army Joins the Operation: The Engineer Task Force (ETF) from the Bison Division of the Indian Army, stationed in Secunderabad, has been deployed to assist in rescue operations. A defense release stated, "The Indian Army is coordinating with all stakeholders to expedite rescue efforts. Our priority remains the swift and safe extraction of those trapped inside."
Obstacles in Rescue Efforts: NDRF officials have been working tirelessly to clear the accumulated water inside the tunnel. However, due to debris blocking the pathway, the exact location of the trapped workers remains unconfirmed.
NDRF’s Progress: NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta stated that rescue teams have covered approximately 13.5 km inside the tunnel, using locomotives and conveyor belts to advance. "We inspected the situation inside around 10 PM last night," Datta told ANI.
Limited Accessibility: Teams from both the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have faced major challenges in reaching the collapsed section. "The tunnel has completely caved in, and mud levels are knee-deep, making access extremely difficult. We need to explore alternative strategies," an SDRF official reported.
Identification of Trapped Workers: According to PTI, the eight trapped individuals have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu & Kashmir, Gurpreet Singh from Punjab, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand. Among them, two are engineers, two are machine operators, and four are laborers.
Government Monitoring: Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari has been closely monitoring the situation, particularly as several trapped workers hail from his state. "I am in constant contact with officials in Telangana. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has also spoken to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy regarding the situation," Ansari told ANI.
Indian Army Joins the Operation: The Engineer Task Force (ETF) from the Bison Division of the Indian Army, stationed in Secunderabad, has been deployed to assist in rescue operations. A defense release stated, "The Indian Army is coordinating with all stakeholders to expedite rescue efforts. Our priority remains the swift and safe extraction of those trapped inside."
Rescue teams continue their relentless efforts, navigating through the difficult conditions inside the tunnel. With time running out, authorities are working against the clock to ensure the safe evacuation of all trapped workers.
(With inputs from PTI & ANI)
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.