Water and muck, nearly 10 feet deep and extending for 2 km, are making entry extremely difficult. Rescue teams are working towards an exit strategy, but the situation remains dangerous.
Published Feb 25, 2025 | 5:34 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 26, 2025 | 3:44 PM
Telangana's Irrigation Minister N Uttam Reddy said the government was not engaging in guesswork regarding the survival but are working to establish concrete evidence. (Sumit Jha/South First)
Synopsis: Authorities are yet to find an alternative route to reach the trapped men even as the Telangana government said it is unwilling to hazard a guess on their survival. More than nine state, central, and private agencies are involved in the search operation. Telangana’s Irrigation Minister N Uttam Reddy said a clear picture will emerge only in a day or two.
Rescue workers are racing against time and diminishing hope to find eight people — a complicated and complex operation — trapped since Saturday inside the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Tunnel at Domapenta in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on Tuesday, 25 February.
The men were trapped after the roof of a part of the 44-kilometer tunnel collapsed at the 14-kilometer point around 8.30 am on Saturday, 22 February.
Telangana’s Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Reddy on Monday said the government was “not engaging in guesswork regarding the survival but are working to establish concrete evidence”. He has been at the scene since Saturday.
The minister said a team of MARCOS, the Navy commandos, inspected the tunnel.
“A geological survey has been carried out, and NGRI (National Geophysical Research Institute) has collected samples. Experts from the Border Roads Organisation and tunnel specialists have been assisting since morning,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
“The situation is complicated and complex, with the human aspect being the highest priority. Efforts are underway to find an access point from the sides. We will continue to pursue all possible solutions,” he said.
More than nine state, central and private teams were at the scene, looking for ways to reach the trapped workers.
A multi-agency meeting was held on Monday morning with representatives from 10 agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy (including its commando unit), MoRTH, SCL, Hydraa, SDRF, NDRF, the Geological Survey of India, LT Tunnel, Navyuga, and NGRI.
“Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar is the unified coordinator for the operation,” Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
“The primary challenge is the combination of water and muck, which is nearly 10 feet deep and extends for 2 km. This makes entry extremely difficult. Rescue teams are working towards an exit strategy, but the situation remains dangerous. While the tunnel is still stable, we may have to wait a day or two for a clearer picture,” he said, adding that a crisscross approach was being employed to find alternative routes.
“Currently, 3,600–5,000 liters of water per minute are flowing from the tunnel. However, the stagnant water remains a challenge,” he added.
Rat miners, who rescued those trapped in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel collapse in November 2023 entered the tunnel on Tuesday, but their progress has been hampered by debris and muck.
Rat miners inside the tunnel. (Supplied)
A team from Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) arrived at the scene to assist with the search operation. They were summoned from another work site after the workers of the project implement firm, Jaypee Associates, refused to enter the tunnel.
One of the workers, who had refused to work, said they were asked to help in clearing the debris. “We are unable to work inside it after facing the horrific situation,” the man said. He was in the tunnel when the roof collapsed and escaped unhurt.
A video, purportedly from inside the tunnel, showed heavy flow of water, adding to concerns. A rat miner team member said a few of them entered the tunnel on Monday night and found the muck and debris rising to about 10 feet.
“At the end of the conveyor belt, it was dark and damp. We found the entire ground covered with debris. While we covered the first 100 meters on foot, the last hundred meters was difficult. It was more slushy,” rat miner Munna Qureshi told South First.
Workers who were inside the tunnel when the roof collapsed on Saturday, were scared to help in clearing the debris, forcing authorities to seek the help of Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited. Pictured is the workers outside the Jaypayee Associates’ site office. (Sumit Jha/South First).
“We can’t say what we can do and how long it might take. We will be able to give a clear picture only after covering the final 100 meters today'” he added.
The rat miners were ferried inside the tunnel in a mining locomotive. Qureshi said after a ride of 1.5 hours, they walked on the conveyor belt till the muck prevented further progress.
Outside the tunnel, a small crowd has gathered around a middle-aged man holding a polythene bag. The man, Jeetu Sahu, remained calm and composed while speaking to those around him, who took notes and recorded his words on their mobile phones.
Jeetu Sahu (fourth, right) reached Domapenta from Jharkhand’s Gumla district in search of his son Sandeep Sahu. (Sumit Jha/South First)
The man reached Domapenta from Jharkhand’s Gumla district, located at the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau.
“I had reached home from the field around 5 pm on 22 February. It was then we were informed of the incident,” he said.
Jeetu’s 28-year-old son Sandeep Sahu is among those trapped inside the tunnel.
“Sandeep came here for work more than a year ago. He last visited us in September. I saw him last on 23 September” he said.
Sandeep, who used to earn ₹12,000 a month, came to Telangana to earn more. His family was preparing to get him married when the mishap happened.
“He said he will come home in April-May,” Jeetu said, his calm exterior still hiding his emotions.
Of the eight people trapped inside the tunnel, four hailed from Jharkhand.
They have been identified as Manoj Kumar (Project Engineer – Uttar Pradesh); Srinivas (Field Engineer – Uttar Pradesh); Sandeep Sahu (Worker – Jharkhand); Jatax (Worker – Jharkhand); Santosh Sahu (Worker – Jharkhand); Anuj Sahu (Worker – Jharkhand); Sunny Singh (Worker – Jammu & Kashmir); and Gurpreet Singh (Worker – Punjab).
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
