People Trapped in Tunnel: Eight individuals remain trapped in the SLBC tunnel in Telangana after a partial collapse, with the chances of survival appearing bleak. Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao has stated that the likelihood of their survival is “very remote” despite continued rescue efforts. The situation remains critical as officials estimate that the operation to extricate the people trapped in tunnel may take three to four days due to significant debris and the lack of oxygen.
The rescue operation has engaged specialized rat miners, known for their efforts in saving workers from the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand in 2023. However, given the extent of the collapse, the challenges remain severe. The debris has piled up to nearly 25 feet in a tunnel with a 30-foot diameter, making access to the people trapped in tunnel extremely difficult.
Minister Krishna Rao, after visiting the accident site, described the dire circumstances. “To be honest, the chances of their survival are very, very, very, very remote. I personally went as close as 50 meters to the site, and we could see the end of the tunnel in photographs. When we called out their names, there was no response,” he said, highlighting the grim reality.
The people trapped in tunnel include Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, Gurpreet Singh from Punjab, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu from Jharkhand. They have been inside the collapsed tunnel for more than 48 hours. Among them are two engineers, two machine operators, and four laborers, whose conditions remain unknown.
Efforts to remove the debris continue with the deployment of multiple excavation machines. However, one of the biggest obstacles is the displacement of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), which weighs several hundred tonnes and was shifted nearly 200 meters due to the force of water surging into the collapsed tunnel. Minister Rao expressed concerns about the possibility of oxygen deprivation for those trapped underneath the debris, even if they managed to take shelter in the lower part of the TBM.
Rescue teams, including personnel from the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other agencies, are tirelessly working to clear the debris and restore the conveyor belt system to expedite removal operations. Despite their efforts, the minister reiterated that the process will take at least three to four more days, given the scale of the collapse.
Authorities continue to pump oxygen into the tunnel and conduct dewatering efforts in an attempt to create a survivable environment for those trapped. However, the minister’s statement underscores the grim reality that the situation remains highly precarious.
The SLBC tunnel collapse occurred at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal project in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on Saturday. The cause of the partial collapse has not yet been officially determined, though experts suggest that structural weaknesses or water pressure buildup may have contributed to the incident.
The families of the people trapped in tunnel remain in distress as rescue teams battle against time and challenging conditions to reach their loved ones. Authorities have assured that all possible measures are being undertaken to complete the operation safely and efficiently.
