Telangana Tunnel Collapse Day 2: No Trace Of 8 Trapped Yet, Massive Debris Hampers Rescue Operations

Mud and debris piled up at a height of 15 metres for 100 metres at SLBC's 14th-kilometre collapse spot, posing a challenge to rescue operations.

Hyderabad:Rescue operations for the eight trapped persons faced several challenges in Telangana's Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel on the second day on Sunday. Massive mud and debris piled up at a height of 15 metres for 100 metres inside the tunnel at the 14th-kilometre collapse spot, which significantly hampered the work of the rescue teams.

The debris has to be removed for another 50 metres to reach the spot where the eight persons, including two engineers, were trapped, said rescue teams consisting of experts of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SDRF, Singareni Rescue Team, Hydraa and Fire Department. NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta said that the eight trapped persons were yet to be traced.

High-capacity pumping sets, cranes and bulldozers are being used by the rescue teams to remove the debris and push forward towards the collapse section. On the other hand, a team from the Indian Navy would also join the rescue operations tonight.

Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the government would make every effort to bring back the trapped workers alive and that they were also exploring the option of reaching the collapse spot from above the tunnel.

A three-meter section of the roof of an under-construction stretch of the SLBC tunnel collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana on Saturday. Seven of the eight trapped inside the tunnel have been identified as Gurjeet Singh (Punjab), Sannit Singh (Jammu and Kashmir), Srinivasulu, Manoj Rubena (Uttar Pradesh), Sandeep, Santosh, and Jatka Heeran (Jharkhand). The collapse occurred just four days after construction work had resumed following a long hiatus.

Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy visits the under construction stretch in the tunnel of Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project where a section of roof collapsed, in Nagarkurnool district, Saturday (IANS)

With the rescue operations continuing on the second day, the rescue team has not yet been able to confirm the exact 'location of the trapped workers.' NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta said that the force has covered around 13.5 kilometres inside the tunnel, primarily using locomotives and conveyor belts.

"Yesterday around 10 PM we went inside to check what the situation is like. The locomotives were used to go inside the tunnel. From the gate of the tunnel, we covered around 13.5 km in total. We covered 11 km by train and then we covered the rest of 2 km by conveyor belt and by walking,' said Dutta.

The official added that the last 200 meters of the collapsed section is completely blocked by debris, making it difficult to confirm the condition or exact location of the trapped workers.

"We had reached the end of the Tunnel Boring Machine, TBM. We shouted and tried to get a reply from the trapped workers but unfortunately, we could not know anything because there was a patch of around 200 meters which is filled with debris. Till the debris is cleared we cannot know the exact location of the victims," the official said.

The response force is currently working to remove the accumulated water inside the tunnel. "The patch between the 11 to 13 km is filled with water, so right now we are in the process of removing the water. When that is done, we will start the rescue operations," he added.

Rescue operations underway after a section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project collapsed, in Nagarkurnool district on Sunday (PTI)

In addition to the NDRF and SDRF, an Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army, under the Infantry Division at Secunderabad, has been placed on standby with an Excavator Dozer to assist in the rescue efforts.

Upon receiving a request from the Chief Secretary of Telangana, the Army quickly mobilised its Engineer Task Force (ETF) for the critical rescue operation. The ETF is equipped with specialized engineering teams, a medical detachment from the Field Ambulance of the Army Medical Corps, an ambulance with three high-capacity pumping sets, armoured hoses, and other essential equipment.

CM Revanth Reddy Reviews Rescue Ops

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday held a review meeting on the rescue operations. The meeting was attended by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, State Advisor (Irrigation) Adityanath Das and CM Advisor Vem Narender Reddy. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy briefed the Chief Minister on the current situation at the tunnel, providing detailed updates.

The CM urged officials to speed up the rescue efforts to save the eight workers trapped inside the tunnel. He also inquired about the health of the injured workers and instructed that they be provided with the best medical care. Revanth Reddy assured the affected families that the government would offer full support to them.

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy informed the CM that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams would reach the accident site shortly. The Chief Minister also directed all department officials to stay alert during the ongoing rescue operations.

PM Modi Offers Assistance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy and assured full assistance from the Central government in the rescue operations.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday over the ongoing rescue operations at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel collapse site.

The Congress leader appreciated the steps taken and the constant vigil and monitoring and asked the government to leave no stone unturned to try and save the trapped workers, an official release said.

In the nearly 20-minute update, CM Reddy emphasised the urgency with which the government responded upon receiving the news, rushing Minister Uttam Reddy to the spot and deploying the NDRF and SDRF rescue squads, it said.