Telangana tunnel accident: Rescue operation in final stage

Rescue operations in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district have entered their final phase as teams strive to reach eight workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel since 22 February.

Officials have refuted reports claiming that bodies have been found, emphasising that such information is unverified and misleading.

The incident occurred at the 14th km mark of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, resulting in injuries to two workers and leaving eight others, including engineers and machine operators from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, trapped.

Over 12 specialised teams, comprising the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni Mines Rescue, Fire Services, and South-Central Railway plasma cutters, are engaged in the rescue efforts. They are focusing on five locations identified by the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) after scanning the accident site through ground penetrating radar (GPR).

Advanced technologies such as GPR, plasma gas cutters, and special sensors are being utilised to clear debris and locate survivors. Continuous oxygen supply is being maintained, and medical teams are on standby to provide immediate assistance.

The operation has been challenging due to water and sludge obstructing the tunnel, but rescuers remain hopeful of a successful outcome. Families of the trapped workers anxiously await their safe recovery, with limited information about their loved ones' conditions.

Authorities continue to work tirelessly, aiming to conclude the rescue mission as swiftly and safely as possible.

Ambulances were kept ready near SLBC tunnel amid intensified desilting and machine-cutting operations by multiple rescue teams.

The NGRI experts traced some soft material under the debris in the last 10-15 metres of the tunnel but were not sure whether it was the people trapped inside. Five to seven-metre-high silt deposits have to be cleared at these five locations.

The rescue workers were also busy repairing the conveyor belt. Once this becomes functional, the pace of rescue operations is expected to gather further speed.

Officials said continuous water seepage remained the biggest impediment in the rescue efforts.

Nagarkurnool district collector Badavath Santosh on Friday night denied that rescue workers found bodies. He urged the media not to broadcast any such news without confirmation as it creates panic.

“NGRI has identified certain points but we can’t say it is 100 per cent correct. It can be metal or it can be something else. We are moving forward as per their finding,” the collector said.

To speed up the rescue efforts, the authorities are implementing a well-structured plan, utilising advanced technology. The water inside the accident site is being pumped out, and debris is being cleared using plasma gas cutters, officials said.

The necessary rescue equipment is being kept ready to ensure swift operations. The conveyor belt will be brought into use as soon as possible, and excavators have been prepared to remove the sludge, they said.

Special cameras and sensors are being used to continuously monitor the internal conditions of the tunnel.

The trapped persons have been identified as Manoj Kumar (UP), Sri Niwas (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab) and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu and Anuj Sahau, all from Jharkhand.

Of the eight, two are engineers, two are operators and the remaining four are labourers. They were employed by Jaiprakash Associates, the contracting firm for the tunnel project.

With IANS inputs