Telangana tunnel collapse: Rescue operation enter 11th day, experts yet to locate 8 trapper workers

The rescue operation to save eight workers trapped inside the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel is progressing rapidly and experts are hopeful they will make a breakthrough on Tuesday. Over 700 personnel are involved in the rescue operation.

According to officials, over 12 agencies are involved in the rescue operation in the damaged tunnel for the past 11 days. Authorities said the conveyor belt, which got damaged in the collapse, is likely to be operational on Tuesday and it would make removal of debris and muck from inside the tunnel easier.

Rescuers are working in three shifts inside the tunnel and the process of removing debris and dewatering is progressing. Rescuers are working on removing debris in the last 40-50 metres at the accident site. However, rescuers are yet to locate the actual position of the trapped workers. Though geology experts noticed some ‘anomalies’ during tests last week, they weren’t able to locate the trapped workers. 

Nagarkurnool District Collector Santhosh Kumar said on Monday that though they excavated two places identified by experts, they did not find any bodies in the location.

Authorities are also considering deploying robots for rescue operation considering the safety of the rescuers. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had visited the tunnel on Sunday and reviewed rescue operations. He said the state government will extend all help to the affected families.

The roof of the under-construction SLBC tunnel partially collapsed on February 22, trapping eight workers inside the tunnel. The trapped workers include two operators, two engineers and four labourers. The trapped persons have been identified as Manoj Kumar (UP), Sri Niwas (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab) and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.