A large-scale multi-agency operation is underway to rescue eight workers trapped in an under-construction irrigation tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district. The incident occurred on February 22, but despite continuous efforts, rescuers have not yet been able to locate the missing workers.
The Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) rescue operation faces significant challenges. Authorities cite accumulated sludge and persistent water inflow into the tunnel as major obstacles hindering progress.
Rescue teams reported reaching the site of the collapse on Wednesday but were unable to find the trapped individuals. Telangana Irrigation Minister acknowledged that the tunnel’s roof collapsed due to geological shifts, causing a large influx of water and mud. “While approximately 70 workers were present, all but eight managed to escape,” he stated.
State Minister J Krishna Rao emphasized that the heavy accumulation of muck within the tunnel has severely hampered rescue efforts. The mud’s impact on mobility has forced rescuers to rely on rubber tubes and wooden planks for navigation, leading to concerns about the trapped workers’ chances of survival.
Joint efforts from various organizations, including teams from the Indian Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and private companies, are actively contributing to the rescue mission.
LOCATION OF COLLAPSE
Approximately 10 meters of the tunnel roof collapsed about 13.5 kilometers from the tunnel entrance during the excavation work. This project had only recently resumed after a significant pause.
Out of the planned 44 kilometers of tunneling, around 13.5 kilometers is completed on one side and 20.5 kilometers on the other, leaving about 9 kilometers still to be finished at the time of the incident.
NDRF Deputy Commander noted that accessing the collapse site became challenging, requiring his team to navigate the last 2 kilometers on a conveyor belt due to deep sludge and water complications preventing the use of project locomotives.
“Upon reaching the end of the tunnel boring machine, we attempted to contact the trapped workers by calling their names, but were met with silence. A 200-meter section is obstructed by debris, and until this is cleared, locating and rescuing the trapped workers remains impossible. Water is filling the area between 11 to 13 kilometers, and debris removal cannot commence until it is drained,” he reported.
Rescue operations are focused on clearing the locomotive track to facilitate the delivery of dewatering equipment and sludge removal machinery to the site.
IMPORTANCE OF THE TUNNEL IN REGIONAL IRRIGATION
The Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) is an essential element of the Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project, a significant regional irrigation initiative aimed at irrigating approximately 300,000 acres in Nalgonda and providing drinking water to fluoride-affected villages.
Minister Reddy described the project as a long-term endeavor that began two decades ago, which has faced numerous challenges. When completed, it is anticipated to be a significant asset for Telangana.
In 2005, the government approved the tunnel project with a budget of Rs 2,813 crores and an expected completion timeframe of 7 to 8 years, according to official records.
