'Accidents happen': Jaypee Group founder on Telangana tunnel collapse
What's the story
A rescue operation is underway after a tunnel collapsed at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district.
The incident, which occurred on February 22, has left eight workers trapped nearly 200 meters into the tunnel.
At the time of the collapse, 60 workers were present on site; however, only 52 managed to escape, leaving eight individuals still unaccounted for.
Contractor's statement
Jaypee Group founder comments on tunnel collapse incident
Amid the ongoing rescue operation, the group's founder, Jaiprakash Gaur, said "accidents may happen during difficult works."
Speaking to reporters at the accident site, the nonagenarian said he had seen six to seven accidents during his professional career.
"I think there might be six or seven accidents, the Tehri (project), in Bhutan, in J&K, everywhere. You have to encounter all this," he said.
Jaiprakash Associates Ltd., a Jaypee Group subsidiary, was awarded the SLBC project for tunnel boring.
Rescue operation
NDRF leads rescue efforts amid challenging conditions
Of the eight workers, two engineers and four laborers are working for Jaiprakash Associates.
The rescue mission is being led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). However, they are being obstructed by a 200-meter debris patch.
NDRF deputy commander Sukhendu Datta said, "There is a 200-metre patch filled with debris," and till it is cleared, the exact location of the workers can't be ascertained.
Minister's concern
Telangana minister expresses concern over trapped workers' survival
Telangana minister Jupally Krishna Rao earlier said the chances of survival of the trapped workers are "very remote" as conditions inside the tunnel are challenging.
Sniffer dogs were called to help locate the workers, but they couldn't move ahead because of the water.
The Telangana government has roped in experts from the Geological Survey of India and the National Geographical Research Institute to help assess this precarious situation.
Additional support
Rat miners join rescue efforts in Telangana tunnel collapse
A team of rat miners who had previously done rescue work in Uttarakhand has also joined the ongoing efforts.
As of Wednesday morning, rescue teams were able to reach the last stretch of the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel, where the workers have been trapped since February 22.
However, they returned empty-handed because muck and debris prevented them from finding the trapped laborers.