Nagarkurnool (Telangana) [India], February 27 (ANI): A multi-agency rescue operation is in full swing at the SLBC (Srisailam Left Bank Canal) tunnel in Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana to save the trapped workers.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy assured that the rescue and relief operations would be completed within two to three days, and the tunnel works would resume in two to three months.
Speaking to media persons at the SLBC tunnel accident site near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district on Thursday, Uttam Kumar Reddy described the incident as one of the most complicated and complex tunnel accidents in Indian history, stating that for the first time, so many national and international agencies have been brought together under a unified command for the rescue mission. Eleven top agencies specialising in tunnel disasters are leading the operation, working with unmatched coordination and expertise.
The minister said that the rescue teams were working round the clock, using the most advanced technology and equipment to safely extract the trapped workers. Plasma cutters, high-grade shutters, and debris removal machinery were being used at the site, while international experts were overseeing the strategy. Tunnel boring machines and dewatering processes had been reactivated to clear obstructions, he said.
“This is an extremely challenging operation, and the best experts in the field are involved. They are working selflessly, risking their own lives to complete this rescue,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. He added that precautionary restrictions had been imposed at the site to ensure the safety of both workers and rescuers.
Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly condemned BRS leaders, especially Harish Rao, for his criticism of the rescue operations. He blamed the previous BRS regime for the tunnel accident, stating that it neglected the SLBC project for a decade. He accused them of abandoning the work and failing to complete the project, which, if finished on time, would have provided 30 TMC of water to Telangana, benefiting three to four lakh acres of agricultural land in Nalgonda.
“The BRS leaders left this project incomplete. If they had worked efficiently, this project would have been finished long ago, and Telangana farmers would have had enough water,” he said.
He also slammed Harish Rao, saying his advice is not needed, as professionals with expertise 1,000 times higher than him were handling the situation. “Does he think he knows more than the top tunnel engineers? Is he trying to insult the Indian Army, Navy commandos, BRO teams and other experts who are risking their lives in this rescue?” he questioned.
The minister dismissed the BRS leaders’ visit to the accident site as mere political theatrics. “They came here to stage a drama and left after putting on a show,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out that during the Srisailam Left Bank Power Station blast, where nine workers lost their lives, no BRS leader even visited the site. He recalled that when Revanth Reddy tried to visit the victims, he was arrested and taken to a police station. Similarly, in the Devadula project, where seven workers died, their remains were recovered only after five years.
He questioned why Harish Rao never spoke about these incidents when they happened under the BRS regime, but is now giving lectures on the SLBC tunnel accident.
The minister further accused KCR and Harish Rao of crippling the irrigation sector by spending Rs 1.81 lakh crore on projects that never provided water. He alleged that the Palamuru-Rangareddy project cost Rs 27,500 crore, yet not a single acre received water. He also pointed out that the Kaleshwaram project, which they proudly built, collapsed, and now they have the audacity to question the Congress government.
“They should have some shame before speaking. They did not complete SLBC, Devadula, Sitarama, or Palamuru Rangareddy projects, and now they are pretending to care,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also questioned former minister Jagadish Reddy, asking why he did nothing when the power supply to SLBC was cut, which halted the dewatering process and stalled the project.
He also accused BRS leaders of colluding with the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, alleging that while they indulged in feasts and entertainment at Pragathi Bhavan, Jagan was busy diverting Krishna River water to Andhra Pradesh. He said that BRS leaders prioritised their personal ties over Telangana’s irrigation interests and failed to protect the state’s water resources.
He assured that the Congress government is working transparently and is fully committed to completing the SLBC project. He emphasized that, unlike the previous government, they are not sitting in farmhouses or looting public money.
“I am a pilot. I have flown several fighter jets. I do not fly helicopters for luxury like BRS leaders,” he remarked, responding to allegations about his travel.
He reiterated that the rescue operation is being conducted with full dedication, and after the workers are safely rescued, the government will ensure that tunnel works resume in the next two-three months and are completed within the stipulated time. (ANI)
, https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/massive-rescue-operation-underway-at-slbc-tunnel-telangana-minister-uttam-kumar-reddy20250227231851
