Telangana government has deployed robots to aid rescuers in the mission to save seven workers trapped inside the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel for 18 days. Eight workers got trapped while working inside the tunnel following the accident on February 22 and rescuers recently recovered the body of a Punjab-based worker.
According to authorities, robots of a Hyderabad-based company have been deployed for the rescue operation. 110 personnel also accompanied the team for the rescue operation inside the tunnel. The state government decided to deploy robots for the operation considering the safety of rescue personnel. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy who had visited the tunnel on March 2 also advised authorities to utilise robots for the rescue operation.
Authorities said the slush and water inside the tunnel was posing a challenge for the rescue operation. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Rs 4 crore was spent for utilising robots. Earlier, cadaver dogs from Kerala were brought for the rescue operation. Two cadaver dogs, capable of identifying human bodies 15ft under the ground were deployed for the operation.
Over 700 personnel and 12 agencies including teams from NDRF, state-run miner Singareni Collieries, rat miners and others working at specific spots indicated by cadaver dogs and radar survey to locate the seven persons. According to officials, fragments of the huge Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) got submerged under water.
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Eight persons including four labourers from Jharkhand, two engineers and two operators have been trapped inside the tunnel since February 22. Trapped persons have been identified as Manoj Kumar (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab) and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.
The body of Gurpreet Singh, a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operator was recovered recently from the tunnel. The body was sent to his native place in Punjab in a hearse van. The Telangana government has provided an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to his family.
