Madhya Pradesh tunnel cave-in: 2 laborers remain stuck; 7 rescued
Two laborers remain trapped as an under-construction tunnel of the Bargi canal project caved in late Saturday evening in the Katni district of Madhya Pradesh. Nine of the laborers had initially been trapped, out of whom, seven have been rescued, as per the latest reports on Sunday. Rescue operations are underway to safely extract the two other laborers.
SDERF, local officials leading rescue op
Local officials and the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) are reportedly engaged in rescue efforts at the site in Katni's Sleemanabad. Earlier on Sunday, officials had said that five of the trapped laborers had been rescued. Katni Collector and District Magistrate Priyank Mishra had tweeted saying that the rescue team could only establish a connection with two of the four others trapped.
Rescue team dug shaft to extract laborers
Rescue efforts are also being monitored by Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajesh Rajora from the state secretariat. The rescue team is trying to reach the laborers by digging a shaft, Rajora told PTI. He said both Mishra and the Katni Superintendent of Police are camping at the site to monitor the operation. The SDERF team had arrived from Jabalpur, Mishra told PTI.
Pray that everyone is rescued safely: CM
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he felt saddened by the news of the laborers being trapped in Katni. In a tweet posted late Saturday, Chouhan said the district administration and the SDERF had been engaged to conduct a rescue operation. "I am in constant touch with the administration. I pray that everyone is rescued safely," he added.
