The operation to rescue eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal in Telangana has hit a roadblock after knee-deep mud and water inside the collapsed portion blocked the NDRF personnel from accessing the tunnel entrance.
The NDRF and SDRF teams began rescue operations on Saturday night after a section of the irrigation project tunnel collapsed. "There's no chance to go to the spot inside the tunnel. It has completely collapsed and mud is reaching up to the knees. We will have to take another step," ANI quoted an SDRF official.
VIDEO | Telangana: Rescue operation underway at the SLBC tunnel roof collapse incident site in Nagarkurnool district.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 23, 2025
Eight people were trapped inside after a section of roof collapsed in the under-construction stretch in the tunnel of Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project… pic.twitter.com/tOyJjqookg
NDRF deputy Commander Sukhendu told ANI that the rescuers managed to get into the tunnel around 10 pm on Saturday. "Out of the 13 km distance inside the tunnel, we covered 11 km on this locomotive and the remaining 2 km, we covered on the conveyor belt. When we reached the end of the TMV (Tunnel Boring Machine), we tried to establish contact with the trapped workers by calling out their names, but we could not find anything," he said.
He added that the next two kilometres are inaccessible as water has filled the section along with debris. "Until we dewater it, the rescue cannot be initiated. The exact location of the trapped workers is yet to be ascertained," he added.
Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse incident Nagarkurnool, Telangana: One of the labourers working there says, "8 people are still trapped inside the tunnel.
— Omkar Ugale (@Omkarugale2811) February 22, 2025
|#Telangana|#SLBC|#TunnelCollapse|#SLBCTunnel| pic.twitter.com/VbeD5uDL3x
The efforts to pump out the water from the tunnel are hampered because water seeps into the tunnel from the hillocks above. It was the roof of the tunnel that stopped the water flow. However, the roof collapsed on Saturday.
Once the water level is down, rescuers hope to use a conveyor belt to excavate the people 9 kilometres into the tunnel. The diameter of the tunnel is 9.5 feet and rescuers expect to send people in as it would be relatively safe, according to The Indian Express.
However, rescuers have ruled out efforts to drill from above the tunnel as there are thick rocks above the tunnel.
It is learnt that two sections of the tunnel collapsed. While the people inside the first section managed to save themselves, the second collapse trapped the 8 workers. Hence, the rescuers have to assess the safety of the tunnel. "The teams are hesitant to go inside as loud sounds are still coming from within," sources told PTI.
The 44-km tunnel is said to be the world's longest and will draw water from the Srisailam project to irrigate four lakh acres in the Nalgonda district.
Eight workers, including two engineers of an infra firm, two operators employed with a US company and four labourers are believed to be trapped inside. Their health status is unclear but government sources said fresh air was being pumped into the tunnel.
The rescuers have roped in specialist engineering teams, a Medical detachment from the Field Ambulance of the Army Medical Corps, an ambulance, three high-capacity pumping sets, armoured hoses, and other accessories.
