Rescue Team Reaches End of Collapsed SLBC Tunnel
Hyderabad: A team of experts working to rescue eight people trapped in the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel for the past five days has successfully reached the end of the tunnel and returned, a senior police official said on Wednesday.
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the Indian Marine Commando Force (MARCOS) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have joined the rescue efforts. These teams are working tirelessly to save the trapped workers.
The rescue teams have managed to reach up to 50 meters before the end of the tunnel, despite the presence of debris and muck. A 20-member team, including experts from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Rat Miners, reached the final points of the tunnel but faced difficulties due to heavy debris. Officials are now working on new strategies to speed up the rescue, including exploring alternative access routes.
One of the biggest challenges has been the accumulation of muddy water, which is blocking access to the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). The minister assured that the rescue operation would be completed within two days.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) team has collected soil samples but has not yet submitted its report on soil strength and other factors. Meanwhile, top experts from the Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, and other agencies are making continuous efforts to break through the tunnel.
As the sludge inside the tunnel has started to solidify, rescuers are now planning to use sniffer dogs to help locate the trapped workers. Officials said they will send the dogs inside the tunnel to detect any signs of life.
Last night, the rescue team reached the exact accident site and attempted to communicate with the trapped workers, but there was no response. The search and rescue operations continue as authorities explore every possible way to bring the workers to safety.
