Telangana Tunnel Collapse: Rescuers Race to Save Trapped Workers
Rescue teams are working hard to save eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool district. The workers have been stuck for over 72 hours after the tunnel collapsed on February 22. Clearing debris and reaching them has been very difficult.
Authorities have called in experts from several agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, and Navy’s MARCOS commandos. Sniffer dogs and specialized rat miners from Uttarakhand, who are skilled in moving through tight spaces, have also joined the effort. However, heavy mud and unstable tunnel structures are making the rescue operation slow.
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka visited the site to review the situation. He was accompanied by Ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and Jupally Krishna Rao. They discussed the progress of the rescue efforts with officials.
State Minister Jupally Krishna Rao expressed concern over the survival chances of the workers. He said the tunnel is filled with debris and water, making it very difficult for anyone to survive. Dewatering efforts are ongoing, but collapsed sections and twisted metal structures are slowing down the process.
Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad said that teams are trying to clear a path for a locomotive to enter the tunnel. Large machines such as bulldozers and gas cutters are being used to remove obstacles, but progress remains slow.
BRS leader KT Rama Rao has demanded a judicial investigation into the collapse. He blamed the current Telangana government for negligence and failing to ensure safety before restarting work on the project after a four-year break.
In response, Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy urged people not to politicize the issue. He said that all efforts should be focused on saving the trapped workers. “This is one of the most challenging rescue operations, and all agencies are working together. Politics should not take priority over human lives,” he stated.
Families of the trapped workers, some of whom are from Jharkhand, have been brought to the site. The Jharkhand government arranged for their travel and is in contact with Telangana authorities regarding the rescue efforts.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 500 personnel are engaged in the operation. Experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) have been consulted to determine the safest way to reach the workers.
Authorities are trying to create an alternative entry point while reinforcing weak sections of the tunnel. The rescue mission is still ongoing, and officials estimate that it may take several more days before they can reach the trapped workers.
