Rescue operations, led by the Indian Army, have entered a critical phase as agencies intensify efforts to locate the eight workers trapped after a partial tunnel collapse on 22 February
Published Mar 08, 2025 | 5:09 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 08, 2025 | 5:09 PM
Rescue teams make progress in SLBC Tunnel, search for trapped workers continues
Synopsis: Rescue teams inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Tunnel have identified potential locations for three trapped workers, raising hopes of progress. Rathole miners are digging at these sites, with significant advances expected by 9 March. The rescue operation, led by the Indian Army, aims to find eight workers trapped since a partial tunnel collapse on 22 February. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy assures government support
Rescue teams working inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Tunnel have discovered promising signs of where three trapped workers may be located, raising hopes of a breakthrough.
Rathole miners are digging in the identified spots, with significant progress expected by Sunday, 9 March, according to Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy.
The ongoing rescue operations, led by the Indian Army, are now entering a critical phase as agencies continue their relentless efforts to locate the eight missing workers who were trapped following a partial tunnel collapse on 22 February.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, who visited the site on Saturday, 8 March, expressed solidarity with the families of the missing workers, assuring that the Telangana government is fully committed to supporting them.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is scheduled to review the situation on 11 March and announce decisions regarding compensation and future actions.
Once the condition of the trapped workers is confirmed, the government will determine compensation, Minister Reddy emphasised during his visit.
Currently, 525 personnel from multiple agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and disaster response teams, are working in full force on the rescue operation.
Dewatering and desilting operations continue, with a conveyor belt system in place to remove debris from the site.
Minister Reddy, who conducted a review of the operations at the site, acknowledged the extreme risks faced by the rescue teams, noting that additional safety measures would be implemented to protect workers in the tunnel.
The SLBC tunnel stretches 14 kilometers, with the final 50 meters presenting the greatest challenges due to unstable rock formations. Minister Reddy cautioned that rescue operations in this section are fraught with danger.
On Friday, 7 March, the Kerala Police K-9 squad, with highly trained Belgian Malinois dogs, joined the search. These dogs are renowned for their ability to detect human remains up to 15 feet underground.
The dogs have pinpointed two potential locations where the trapped workers may be. Rescue teams are currently working to remove silt at these identified spots.
Minister Reddy announced that he would revisit the SLBC tunnel site in the next two to three days to assess the ongoing efforts.
A high-level review meeting, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, is scheduled for 11 March in Hyderabad, where rescue efforts and next steps will be discussed.
As the rescue teams face difficulty navigating the most hazardous part of the tunnel, Minister Reddy confirmed that robots will be deployed to aid the search.
Experts have highlighted the dangers of manually conducting operations in the final 50 meters, and the robotic equipment will provide greater precision while enhancing safety for the workers involved in the search.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Sumit Jha)
