Rescue efforts are underway to locate and save eight workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana, after a section of its roof collapsed on Saturday morning. Officials confirmed that there has been no communication with the trapped individuals yet.
Nagarkurnool District Collector B Santhosh stated that authorities have been unable to establish contact with those stuck inside. “As of now, we don’t have communication with them. The rescuers will go inside and see, and then we will be able to tell,” he said, as quoted by PTI.
Rescue Operations Underway
According to officials, 51 workers were involved in excavation work through a hill—around 120 km from Hyderabad—when the incident occurred at approximately 8:30 am. While most workers managed to escape, eight individuals, including two site engineers, remain trapped behind a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) about 14 km inside the tunnel.
Multiple rescue teams have been mobilized, including four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, 24 Indian Army personnel, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 23 members from Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), and members of the infrastructure firm handling the project. The Army is coordinating with all stakeholders to expedite the rescue efforts.
Challenges in Reaching Trapped Workers
The rescue teams have made progress and reached the area where the TBM was operational at the time of the collapse. However, a significant challenge is the presence of silt, making it difficult for rescuers to move ahead. Oxygen and power supply have been restored in the tunnel, and efforts to remove water and debris are ongoing.
An NDRF official highlighted the issue of water logging just 2 km before the 13.5 km mark, preventing heavy equipment from reaching the site. “Dewatering has to be completed to allow the equipment to move forward. Only then can debris removal begin,” he explained. Additional motors have been deployed to speed up the process.
Rescue personnel reached the 13.5 km point and attempted to contact the trapped workers but received no response. The final stretch of 200 meters remains crucial, and only upon reaching the site will officials be able to assess their condition.
Political Leaders Monitor Situation
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reached out to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to inquire about the ongoing rescue efforts. He urged the state government to ensure that all possible measures are taken to save the trapped workers.
Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma also spoke with the Nagarkurnool District Collector to get an update on the situation.
About the SLBC Project
The tunnel is a key component of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project, designed to provide 30 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Srisailam reservoir to the Nalgonda district.
Sources By Agencies
