In Telangana, rescue workers are attempting to locate eight trapped workers following a tunnel collapse in Nagarkurnool. The collapse occurred while the workers were repairing a leak in the 44-km-long Srisailam Left Bank Canal project tunnel. Rescuers are facing challenges due to debris and water, complicating their efforts. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged, with over 13 km already traversed inside the tunnel. The government is monitoring the situation closely, with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urging swift rescue efforts and support for affected families. Contact with the trapped workers remains unestablished as rescuers call out their names.
Hyderabad:
Rescue teams are calling out the names of the trapped workers as they enter the tunnel, a section of which collapsed yesterday in Telangana, according to exclusive footage obtained by NDTV. The incident occurred in Nagarkurnool, where at least eight workers became trapped while attempting to fix a leak. Leading rescue agencies have been dispatched, and a tunnel-boring machine is being introduced to aid in the rescue efforts.
Footage shows rescuers navigating through the twisted debris that obstructs the tunnel’s entrance. An official from the NDRF reported that a rescue team ventured into the tunnel last night, covering 11 km on a locomotive and the final 2 km via a conveyor belt.
“Upon reaching the end of the tunnel boring machine, we called out their names, but there was no response,” he stated. The last 2 km of the tunnel is waterlogged, and operations cannot proceed until the debris is cleared, the official explained.
Rescue teams have yet to establish contact with the trapped workers, as the internal communication system failed yesterday. They are now calling out to the workers by name, hoping to receive a reply that would indicate their safety.
The tunnel, extending 44 km, is part of the ongoing construction of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), an irrigation project supplying water to the Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts. During the collapse, many workers managed to escape; however, eight workers operating the tunnel boring machine were trapped, as per a preliminary report. The project is being executed by the Jaypee Associated Group.
Disaster response teams are actively working to ensure the safety of the trapped workers, but the mud mixed with water stretching over 200-300 meters in the tunnel presents a significant hurdle.
A government report indicated an earth fracture in the tunnel wall, causing water to flow in, necessitating dewatering before rescue operations can proceed. It also mentioned that the sounds of shifting boulders suggest that the roof in the collapsed area is unstable.
At least four NDRF teams are en route, while state personnel are already engaged in rescue efforts. The situation is under continuous monitoring at both the state and central levels.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy held a review meeting yesterday, during which Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar updated him on the current circumstances at the tunnel. State Adviser (Irrigation) Adityanath Das and Adviser to the Chief Minister Vem Narender Reddy were also present at the meeting.
The Chief Minister has requested information regarding the injured workers and urged officials to accelerate rescue operations. He also instructed them to ensure all possible support is provided to the affected families by the government.
Mr. Reddy has called on all departments to remain vigilant throughout the rescue operations.