In a tragic incident, a section of the roof of the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapsed in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana, on Saturday. According to police officials, six to eight workers are feared trapped inside the tunnel, approximately 12-14 kilometers from the entrance. The mishap occurred when workers were inside the tunnel conducting routine construction activities. The construction company’s team is currently assessing the situation, while rescue operations are underway to locate and evacuate those trapped. A press release from the Chief Minister’s office stated that some individuals have sustained injuries, though the exact number remains unconfirmed.

Following the incident, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy instructed district authorities, including the Collector and Superintendent of Police, to oversee relief operations. State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with government adviser on irrigation Adityanath Das, traveled to the accident site via a special helicopter to evaluate the situation firsthand. Meanwhile, Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy expressed concern over the accident, urging officials to expedite the rescue efforts and provide medical assistance to any injured workers. Preliminary reports suggest that the collapse was caused by a failure in a concrete segment meant to seal seepage at the 14-kilometer mark of the tunnel.

To assist in the rescue operations, a specialized 19-member team from the state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) has been deployed to the site. SCCL, known for its expertise in mining and handling structural collapses, has dispatched advanced machinery imported from Australia, the USA, and Poland to aid in breaking through debris efficiently. SCCL CMD N Balram assured that their team possesses the necessary skills and equipment to tackle such emergencies. As rescue teams work against the clock, authorities continue their efforts to ensure the safe retrieval of all trapped workers.