SLBC Tunnel Collapse: Rescue Efforts Intensify as Teams Close in on Trapped Workers

Nagarkurnool: Rescue operations have been intensified to save workers and engineers trapped inside the collapsed section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Tunnel Project. The trapped individuals are believed to be just 100 meters away from the rescue teams, but the final stretch remains inaccessible, posing a major challenge.

Government Oversight and Assessment

Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma is closely monitoring the situation, while Ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao personally entered the tunnel to assess the rescue efforts. Their assessment is expected to take at least four hours before they exit the tunnel.

Multi-Agency Rescue Operation Underway

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Singareni Collieries are working alongside the Indian Army, which has deployed advanced rescue equipment and three helicopters. These combined efforts aim to reach the trapped workers as quickly and safely as possible.

Teams have managed to navigate approximately 14 km into the tunnel, but the final segment is unstable. Further excavation poses the risk of another collapse, making the operation extremely delicate.

Challenges and Next Steps

Efforts to dewater the affected section are ongoing, but it remains uncertain how long it will take to clear the tunnel. Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department is exploring alternative rescue methods, including drilling through 400 meters of overburden or opening the tunnel from the top or sides if necessary. If direct access to the trapped workers is not achieved soon, these measures could begin as early as tonight.

Authorities have assured that all possible options are being considered to ensure the safe rescue of those trapped inside.