Rescue teams working to free eight workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in Telangana are now cutting through parts of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) to create an access route, officials said on Saturday. The rescue operation has been ongoing for a week after the engineers and laborers were stranded under the collapsed section of the tunnel on February 22
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, state-run miner Singareni Collieries, and local rat miners are working around the clock to clear debris and make their way toward the trapped individuals. Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad confirmed that dewatering and debris removal efforts are proceeding alongside the TBM dismantling. “The rescue operation is progressing continuously. A team went inside the tunnel on Saturday morning, and we are removing all obstacles in our path,” he said.
Officials reported that a damaged section of the tunnel’s conveyor belt, which could further obstruct the rescue efforts, was expected to be repaired by Saturday. Meanwhile, scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) deployed Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology and detected “anomalies” inside the tunnel. However, the exact nature of these anomalies remains unclear due to the complex conditions, including muddy terrain and waterlogged sections. Experts are expected to analyze these findings further to determine their significance.
A total of over 500 skilled personnel from multiple agencies have been mobilized to assist in the rescue operation. The trapped workers 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. Among them, two are engineers, two are machine operators, and four are laborers employed by Jaiprakash Associates, the contracting firm responsible for the SLBC tunnel project.
The state government has also intensified its monitoring of the crisis. Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, and Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari have left for the accident site to oversee rescue operations and provide necessary directives.
The SLBC tunnel collapse has raised concerns about safety protocols in large-scale infrastructure projects, with authorities under pressure to expedite the operation and ensure the safe retrieval of the trapped workers. As rescue teams work tirelessly, officials remain hopeful of a breakthrough in the coming hours.
