Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], February 24: Former NDMA Vice Chairman and BJP leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy has sharply criticized the Telangana state government following the collapse of a section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, which trapped eight workers.
Expressing his disappointment over the recurrence of such incidents, Reddy condemned the government for not taking sufficient precautions to prevent such tragedies. He called for more robust safety measures and a comprehensive disaster management plan to avoid similar incidents in the future.
“It is really disappointing and sad that this is not the first time that such floods have happened, the SLBC tunnel has collapsed… It is definitely time for introspection,” Reddy told ANI.
He further criticized the lack of attention from the state government on the issue, questioning why safety measures were not implemented effectively, especially after two such incidents. “What is the lesson? Why were safety measures not taken?” he asked, urging the government to take immediate action. He also emphasized the need for the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to develop a better disaster management plan for such situations.
Rescue operations have been underway since Sunday morning at the site of the SLBC tunnel collapse, which occurred on Saturday morning at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district. The tunnel collapse happened just four days after construction work had resumed following a long break. While some workers were able to escape, eight workers remain trapped in the rubble.
In a bid to expedite the rescue efforts, endoscopic and robotic cameras were deployed to the site on Monday, along with a Dog Squad from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force (ETF) has also been brought in with specialized equipment and medical teams to help clear the debris and ensure the safe evacuation of the trapped individuals.