Rescue efforts for eight individuals trapped in the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana face dire challenges, with survival chances described as “very remote” by Minister Jupally Krishna Rao. Despite the assistance of rat miners experienced in rescue operations, he noted that the situation is complicated due to mud and debris. The trapped individuals have been without response for over 48 hours, and efforts to clear the site are ongoing. With a Tunnel Boring Machine significantly displaced by the collapse, authorities are restoring machinery to expedite debris removal. Rescue operations, involving various agencies, may take three to four days to complete.
Hyderabad:
Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao stated on Monday that the survival chances of the eight individuals trapped in the SLBC tunnel following a partial collapse two days ago are “very remote,” although all possible efforts are being made to rescue them.
He also highlighted that a team of rat miners, who successfully rescued construction workers trapped in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in 2023, has joined the rescue teams attempting to free the men.
The Minister indicated that the rescue operations could take at least three to four days, as the accident site is densely packed with muck and debris, presenting significant challenges for the rescuers.
“Honestly, the chances of their survival are exceedingly slim. I personally went up to nearly 50 meters from the mishap site. When we took photographs, we could see the end of the tunnel. Out of the 9-meter diameter (of the tunnel)—almost 30 feet—about 25 feet is filled with mud,” he informed PTI.
“When we called out their names, there was no response… so the likelihood is virtually nonexistent,” he remarked.
The individuals trapped in the collapsed tunnel for over 48 hours have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh (Jammu and Kashmir), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab), and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.
Among the eight, two are engineers, two are operators, and four are laborers.
Krishna Rao noted that efforts to clear the debris are in progress, with multiple machinery deployed on-site.
He mentioned that the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), weighing several hundred tons, was almost pushed away by about 200 meters due to the collapse and the ensuing water flow.
“Even if we assume that the trapped individuals are in the lower section of the TBM, and if it is intact on the top, where is the air (oxygen)? Underneath, how would oxygen reach them?” he questioned, despite continuous efforts to pump oxygen and remove water.
“Clearing all the debris will take no less than 3-4 days, in spite of all the organizations working on it,” Rao stated, who has been supervising the rescue operations along with Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy.
Rao mentioned that the conveyor belt is being restored in the tunnel to facilitate debris removal.
Despite the tireless efforts of the Indian Army, NDRF, and other agencies, there has been no significant progress in the rescue operations to free the eight individuals trapped for over 48 hours inside the tunnel after a section collapsed in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in the Nagarkurnool district of Telangana on Saturday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)