Desperate Rescue Efforts Underway As Eight Workers Remain Trapped In Telangana Tunnel Collapse—All You Need To Know

A huge rescue mission is underway in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district, where eight labourers have been stuck for almost 48 hours after a part of the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapsed, Hindustan Times reported.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies are fighting difficult conditions to access them.

The accident happened on a Saturday (22 February) morning when part of the roof of the tunnel collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta, just days after the resumption of work after a gap of many months.

While some workers escaped, eight others are still trapped underground. Telangana Minister J Krishna Rao, who visited the spot, conceded that the chances of survival were "not that good."

He told about the challenge rescuers are facing, stating, "Muck has piled up too high inside the tunnel, making it impossible to walk through. They (rescuers) are using rubber tubes and wooden planks to navigate through it."

NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta informed that his men had progressed 13.5 kilometres inside the tunnel on locomotives and conveyor belts.

Waterlogging within the tunnel has also made it more difficult. Officials had pinpointed severe flooding between the 11 to 13-kilometre section, which needed water to be drained before the rescue operation could continue.

"There's no chance to go to the spot inside the tunnel. It has completely collapsed and mud is reaching up to the knees," an SDRF official said.

Among the workers trapped are those from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and Jharkhand. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari confirmed that he was keeping an eye on the situation, stating, "CM Hemant Soren has spoken to the Telangana CM (Revanth Reddy). As per the information, four to five labourers from Jharkhand are stuck there."

In a critical development, the Indian Army's Engineer Task Force (ETF) from Secunderabad has now been deployed to join the rescue operations.

A defence statement confirmed, "The Indian Army is working closely with all stakeholders for expediting the rescue efforts. Indian Army's priority remains the swift and safe extraction of those trapped inside."