Rescue Efforts Continue at SLBC Tunnel
Rescue operations are still in progress at the SLBC tunnel in Nagarkurnool. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have traveled 11 kilometers inside the tunnel using a small train. However, beyond this point, they encountered water up to three feet deep, forcing them to continue on foot. The teams walked from the 11th to the 14th kilometer to reach the site of the accident.
The rescue workers have now reached the location of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), where the back portion of the machine was damaged in the accident. Unfortunately, both sides of the TBM are blocked by mud and debris, making it difficult for the teams to move forward. Reports indicate that the TBM had moved 80 meters backward when the accident occurred.
After much effort, the NDRF personnel finally reached the front section of the TBM. However, due to the water, mud, and debris present in the tunnel, they have not yet been able to rescue the trapped workers. The situation remains challenging.
A review meeting was conducted to assess the ongoing rescue operations. Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao, along with Nagarkurnool Collector Badavath Santosh and SP Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath, discussed the rescue efforts. Ranganath, the Commissioner of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), also took part in the meeting. Authorities are continuing their efforts to ensure a successful rescue.
