Rescue process could take at least three to four days due to the extensive debris.
Telangana Tunnel Rescue Operation Latest News Today: Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao stated on Monday that the chances of survival for the eight workers trapped inside the collapsed SLBC tunnel remain very remote, despite ongoing rescue operations.
In an effort to bolster rescue attempts, a specialized team of rat miners—who previously played a crucial role in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel rescue in Uttarakhand in 2023—has joined the operations to extract the trapped individuals.
Rao highlighted that the rescue process could take at least three to four days due to the extensive debris and muck blocking access to the workers.
“To be honest, the chances of survival are extremely slim. I personally inspected the site and saw that mud has filled nearly 25 feet of the 30-foot diameter tunnel. Even after calling out their names, we received no response,” Rao told PTI.
The trapped workers have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas (Uttar Pradesh), Sunny Singh (Jammu and Kashmir), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab), and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu (all from Jharkhand). Among them, two are engineers, two are operators, and four are laborers.
The minister explained that the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), weighing several hundred tons, was pushed nearly 200 meters by the collapse and gushing water, significantly complicating rescue efforts.
“Even if the machine remains intact, there is no guarantee of oxygen supply. We have been continuously pumping oxygen and dewatering, but the situation remains critical,” he added.
Authorities, including the Indian Army, NDRF, and other agencies, are working tirelessly to clear the huge amount of debris. However, no breakthrough has been made yet. Officials have also started restoring the conveyor belt in the tunnel to assist in clearing the blockage.
Despite relentless efforts, the fate of the trapped workers remains uncertain, as the collapse at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in Nagarkurnool district continues to pose major challenges to the ongoing rescue operations.
