Rescue Operation Intensifies for Missing Workers in Srisailam Tunnel Collapse
The search for eight missing workers trapped inside the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel has intensified. On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the South Central Railway (SCR) team brought in advanced cutting tools to speed up the rescue. The National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) also joined the operation.
For several days, steel and iron debris have made the rescue mission difficult. A team from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Indian Army recently inspected the collapsed section to assess the situation. Following their inspection, high-tech machinery was brought in to assist in clearing the debris.
SCR’s Divisional Mechanical Engineering team arrived with an ‘Ultra Thermos Cutter,’ a tool capable of cutting metal thicker than 8mm. “This cutter is well-suited for our rescue efforts inside the tunnel. Our team has already taken it inside,” an official told The Hindu. Due to the large amount of twisted steel and iron, an additional cutter has been requested and is expected to arrive later in the day.
Initially, experts from BRO suggested using plasma cutters. However, they were found to be too heavy to transport into the tunnel, so the plan was abandoned.
As the mission gained momentum, an NGRI team entered the tunnel with a Ground Probing Radar (GPR) unit. This device, which operates at a frequency of 200 MHz, can scan up to 10 metres underground. Another GPR unit is being used to scan from the top of the hill.
Meanwhile, efforts to remove water from the tunnel are almost complete. Multiple teams are using special dumpers to clear out the accumulated slush. Eleven specialised teams, including members from the project’s executive company, have been working on the rescue mission for six days. However, the missing workers have not yet been found.
Rescuers reached the deepest point accessible inside the tunnel last evening. Unfortunately, they encountered a massive blockage of steel, iron, oil, and slush, completely blocking the site.
A BRO team, including tunnel expert Colonel Parikshit Mehra, former Additional Director General K. P. Purshothaman, and former Director General Lieutenant General Harpal Singh, visited the site along with officials from the Indian Army, NDRF, and other agencies. They provided recommendations to speed up the operation. “Following these recommendations, teams are now working on both searching for the missing workers and clearing the debris,” an official stated.
Rescue efforts continue at full scale as teams battle through the wreckage in hopes of reaching those trapped inside.
