In a critical operation, rescue teams are striving to save eight workers trapped for over 30 hours following a collapse in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool, Telangana. The incident occurred during ongoing construction, with approximately 70 workers inside the tunnel at the time. While most managed to escape using internal transport, eight individuals remain unaccounted for.
The Telangana government has mobilised a comprehensive rescue effort, enlisting the expertise of the Indian Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and specialised tunnel experts from across the nation. Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, overseeing the operations on-site, expressed hope for a successful outcome, stating, “We are hoping and praying that we can recover them, retrieve them, and save them by this evening.”
The SLBC project, initiated over three decades ago, aims to construct a 44-kilometre tunnel to channel water from the Srisailam reservoir, providing irrigation to approximately four lakh acres in the Nalgonda district. Despite significant progress, about nine kilometres of the tunnel remain incomplete.
Rescue teams are meticulously clearing soil and concrete debris, implementing measures to drain water from the affected section. However, their efforts are hindered by substantial mud blockages within the tunnel. citeturn0search2
The situation remains fluid, with authorities and rescue personnel working tirelessly to reach the trapped workers and bring them to safety.
