Nagarkurnool (Telangana) [India]: Rescue operations to evacuate the eight workers trapped in Telangana’s Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel have been ongoing since Sunday morning.
Early Monday visuals from the site indicate that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is making steady progress, advancing deeper into the tunnel where the workers are feared to be trapped. The rescue teams are currently working to remove accumulated water inside the tunnel.
However, due to debris blocking the passage, the NDRF has not yet been able to confirm the exact location of the trapped workers, according to officials.
Challenges in Rescue Efforts
NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta provided an update, stating that the team has covered approximately 13.5 kilometers inside the tunnel, using locomotives and conveyor belts.
“Yesterday around 10 PM, we went inside to assess the situation. We covered a total of 13.5 km—11 km by train and the remaining 2 km by conveyor belt and walking,” said Datta.
The final 200-meter stretch of the collapsed section remains completely blocked by debris, making it difficult to determine the condition or location of the workers.
“We reached the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and tried to communicate by shouting, but unfortunately, there was no response. The last 200 meters are filled with debris, and until it is cleared, we cannot confirm the victims’ location,” he added.
Water Removal and Alternative Rescue Approaches
The NDRF is currently focused on draining the water from the 11 km to 13 km section before proceeding with the rescue.
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) also reported severe challenges in reaching the collapsed section.
“There’s no way to access the exact location inside the tunnel. It has completely collapsed, and the mud is knee-deep. We will have to take another approach,” an SDRF official stated.
Timeline of the Incident
- Saturday morning: A three-meter section of the under-construction SLBC tunnel collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district.
- The collapse occurred just four days after construction had resumed following a long hiatus.
- While some workers managed to escape, eight remain trapped.
Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly to clear debris and reach the trapped workers, with hopes of a successful evacuation soon.