Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said that the chances of survival of the eight people are “very remote”, even though every effort is being made to reach them.
Published Feb 24, 2025 | 1:30 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 24, 2025 | 5:16 PM
The rescue team is dewatering the SLBC tunnel.
Synopsis: Rescue operations to save eight workers trapped after the collapse of an under-construction SLBC tunnel in Telangana is continuing. Nagarkurnool District Collector B Santhosh said the rescue team was unable to reach the last 40 metres of the collapsed tunnel and is trying to drain water to reach the trapped people.
Rescue operations to save eight workers trapped after the collapse of an under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana have been continuing for the third consecutive day on Monday, 24 February.
Nagarkurnool District Collector B Santhosh said the rescue team was unable to reach the last 40 metres of the collapsed tunnel and is trying to drain water to reach the trapped people.
“The rescue team is dewatering the tunnel. Indian Army, along with NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams are going inside with additional equipment. Our primary focus will be on the rescue of the workers stuck inside. Yesterday (Sunday), they could not reach the last 40 meters and now necessary measures are being taken,” he told ANI.
Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police (SP) Vaibhav Gaikwad said that experts are working to rescue the trapped people as soon as possible.
“The operation has been going on for the last two days. NDRF, Army, Navy, experts, and police are working. The rescue operation is continuing. We are trying to rescue them as soon as possible. We are providing all the support and we hope that the rescue operation finishes soon,” he said.
However, Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said that the chances of survival of the eight people are “very remote”, even though every effort is being made to reach them, reported PTI.
“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,” Krishna Rao, who went inside the tunnel, told reporters.
“We can’t say. We are hopeful, but the kind of incident that took place was very serious and chances are we can not say. The chances of survival can not be predicted. Chances are not that good,” he said.
The people trapped in the collapsed tunnel have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, Gurpreet Singh from Punjab, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.
NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta revealed that the rescue teams haven’t received any response from the trapped people.
According to the rescue team, waterlogging inside the tunnel is hampering rescue efforts and the loco trains that are being used could not go beyond the 9th km point. There is a lot of water, for about two km, till the 11 km point.
Experts said it would be difficult to reach the victims unless most of the water was drained out.
Officials said that they are ensuring a continuous supply of oxygen inside the tunnel. They said the aim now is to reach and remove the soil and other debris that had collapsed while the boring was going on.
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the government is making every effort to rescue the eight people and urged the Opposition BRS to not politicise the disaster.
“We have reviewed rescue operations with Army, Navy, and NDRF representatives. The government is making all possible efforts to save the lives of the eight trapped workers. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is personally monitoring the situation. The entire government machinery is on high alert,” he said.
“Due to the loosening of natural rock formations in the tunnel, water and mud suddenly gushed in. As a result, the tunnel is filled with water up to 12-13 feet. This is an extremely critical situation, and technical experts are working round the clock to resolve it,” he explained.
The minister revealed that the accident site is geographically challenging, making it difficult to bring heavy machinery to the location. However, officials are exploring alternative methods to remove the debris.
The Irrigation Department, disaster management teams, and defence forces are working together, and the oxygen supply is being continuously maintained. Motors are being used for de-watering.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy are closely monitoring the situation.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from R Prithviraj.)
