Nagarkurnool, Telangana, February 28 – Efforts to rescue eight workers trapped inside the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana have entered their eighth day, with over 500 rescuers working tirelessly to clear debris and reach the victims. Despite continuous efforts, officials have reported no breakthrough in the rescue operation so far.
No Evidence of Human Bodies in Debris, Clarifies District Collector
Amid circulating reports claiming that ground-penetrating radar (GPR) had detected human bodies inside the debris, Nagarkurnool District Collector B Santhosh dismissed them as false."We have noticed that some fake news is going around that bodies have been found. This is not true. If there is any such update, we will officially inform the media," he stated.
Massive Multi-Agency Rescue Efforts Underway
A specialized rescue team of 500 personnel, including the Indian Army, Navy, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been engaged in the high-risk operation.- Singareni Collieries Company Ltd has deployed 200 personnel following government instructions.
- South Central Railway (SCR) has provided advanced cutting equipment, including plasma cutters and Brocho cutting machines, to assist in clearing debris, confirmed SCR Chief Public Relations Officer A Sridhar.
- Rat miners, known for their expertise in navigating small and dangerous underground spaces, have also been deployed to assist.
Ongoing Challenges in Rescue Operations
Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad stated that metal cutting and debris removal are ongoing."A team entered the tunnel at 7 AM today. The clearing of debris has been in progress since yesterday morning, along with dewatering operations," he said.
Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasized that the tunnel boring machine (TBM), which remains stuck inside, will be cut into pieces using gas cutters and removed to facilitate rescue efforts.
Trapped Workers Identified
The eight missing workers, including two engineers, two operators, and four laborers, have been identified as:- Manoj Kumar (Uttar Pradesh)
- Sri Niwas (Uttar Pradesh)
- Sunny Singh (Jammu & Kashmir)
- Gurpreet Singh (Punjab)
- Sandeep Sahu (Jharkhand)
- Jegta Xess (Jharkhand)
- Santosh Sahu (Jharkhand)
- Anuj Sahu (Jharkhand)
Background of the Incident
The accident occurred on February 22, when a portion of the SLBC tunnel collapsed, trapping the workers inside. Since then, the rescue mission has faced significant hurdles due to the complex structure of the tunnel and the presence of large debris.As the rescue operation continues, authorities remain hopeful but cautious, ensuring that the safety of rescuers is not compromised. Further updates will be provided as developments unfold.
