The conveyor belt at the SLBC tunnel, which partially collapsed, has been repaired and is now operational. This tunnel collapse trapped eight workers for the past 11 days. Officials stated that fixing the conveyor belt will help remove debris faster, making the rescue operation more efficient. The belt was damaged in the accident on February 22.
With the conveyor belt working again, rescue teams have increased their efforts. The belt is now clearing 800 tonnes of debris per hour. A team of experts from the National Centre for Seismology in Delhi has also joined the operation. Additionally, personnel from 12 different organizations are working together to speed up the rescue. Ground-penetrating radar is being used to locate areas for excavation, and two escalators have been set up to assist in the process.
To further aid the mission, the remaining parts of the Tunnel Boring Machine will be cut with a gas cutter and removed using a loco train. Pump sets are also being used to drain water from the tunnel, creating a safer environment for the rescue teams.
A review meeting took place in the evening, led by Nagarkurnool District Collector B. Santosh and Special Chief Secretary for Disaster Management Arvind Kumar. They discussed the progress made since the conveyor belt resumed operation. The meeting also covered the role of the Fire Services team, the use of rat mining teams, plasma cutters, and ways to improve coordination among different teams.
Officials stated that about 6,000 cubic meters of slush spread over 200 meters needs to be cleared to reach the trapped workers. Meanwhile, State Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is currently in New Delhi, has been closely monitoring the situation. He remains in constant communication with officials and is giving instructions to speed up the rescue efforts.
