A team of expert rat miners has arrived at Domalapenta to help with the rescue operation at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse site. These miners are known for their successful rescue mission during the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi last year.
Rat-hole mining is a method where coal is extracted manually through narrow pits. This technique was banned in 2014 because it is dangerous. However, when modern machines could not free workers trapped in an Uttarkashi tunnel for 16 days, these expert miners stepped in. Using hand tools, they successfully rescued the trapped workers.
The recent tunnel collapse happened on 22 February, trapping eight workers, including two engineers and two technicians. Rescue teams are working hard to bring them to safety as quickly as possible.