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Nagarkurnool, Telangana, February 24, 2025: Rescue teams are engaged in a strenuous operation to reach eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel following a collapse on Saturday. Despite continuous efforts, officials express concerns over the diminishing likelihood of finding survivors.


Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, after assessing the situation firsthand, conveyed the gravity of the circumstances. "The chances of survival are very, very, very, very remote," he stated, highlighting the extensive debris and water accumulation hindering rescue operations. The minister noted that muck has piled up to 25 feet within the tunnel, complicating access to the trapped individuals.

The incident occurred when a section of the under-construction SLBC tunnel collapsed, trapping eight workers approximately 13.5 kilometers inside. Rescue teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, and specialized rat-hole miners, have been deployed to navigate the challenging conditions. However, progress has been impeded by waterlogging and silt, which have rendered heavy machinery ineffective.

Efforts to dewater the tunnel are ongoing, with additional pumps installed to expedite the process. Rescuers have managed to reach up to the tunnel boring machine but face difficulties moving beyond due to the collapsed structure and accumulated debris. The lack of response from the trapped workers, despite repeated attempts to communicate, has further dampened hopes.

The trapped individuals have been identified as 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. Their families await news anxiously as rescue operations continue under challenging conditions.

This incident raises critical questions about safety protocols in large-scale infrastructure projects. The difficulties faced in the rescue operations underscore the need for stringent safety measures and emergency preparedness to prevent such tragedies in the future.

As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on the arduous task of debris removal and tunnel stabilization. The outcome of this operation could prompt a reevaluation of construction practices and safety standards across similar projects nationwide.

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