'Survival chances remote' for 8 trapped in collapsed Telangana tunnel
What's the story
Rescue operations are in full swing to save eight people trapped since Saturday in a collapsed tunnel at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) in Telangana.
The victims include two engineers, four laborers of Jaiprakash Associates, and two employees of a US company.
According to officials, 51 workers were carrying out excavation work through a hill around 120 kilometers from Hyderabad when a section of the tunnel's roof collapsed around 8.30am.
Rescue efforts
Rescue teams race against time in tunnel collapse
Rescue teams, including the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reached the endpoint of the tunnel machine within 24 hours of the roof collapse.
Specialized machinery has been deployed to reach the last 40 meters to the victims.
Nagarkurnool District Collector B Santosh said, "Parallelly, de-watering is going on and also excavators will be sent inside."
Official statement
Minister acknowledges slim survival chances, rescue efforts continue
Minister Jupally Krishna Rao has admitted the slim chances of survival but stressed all efforts are being made to rescue the trapped.
"I can't predict the chances of survival, but the chances are not very good... But even if there is the slightest chance, we will try to save them," he said.
A team of rat miners, who rescued the construction workers trapped in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has joined the efforts.
Operational difficulties
Challenges faced in rescue operation
The rescue operation is being hampered by debris and waterlogging inside the tunnel. The NDRF Deputy Commander said that waterlogging between the 11-13km mark delayed the removal of debris.
Efforts depend on completing dewatering before clearing debris to find the workers.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is personally monitoring the rescue operation at the SLBC site, with senior officials from various departments assisting in rescue efforts.
Rescue intensification
Government forms special team, intensifies rescue operations
The government has also constituted a six-member special team well-versed in rat-hole drilling techniques.
Excise Minister Rao clarified the collapse was an accident and not due to human error or government fault.
He urged against politicizing the incident and assured intensified rescue operations with additional support from Navy personnel.
Efforts continue as rescuers cut through collapsed sections and clear debris filled with iron, muck, cement blocks while oxygen is being pumped continuously into the tunnel.