Rescue operations in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool have entered a critical phase as three teams of engineers and disaster response personnel work tirelessly to assess the tunnel’s strength. Eight men remain trapped inside after a portion of the tunnel collapsed, blocking their exit with debris and mud. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Fire Services Department are coordinating efforts to determine whether the structure is stable enough for rescuers to proceed inside. Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad confirmed that engineers and mining experts from Singareni Collieries have also arrived to assess the situation. The rescue team attempted to establish contact with the trapped individuals but received no response, raising concerns that they may be further inside the blocked tunnel. Authorities are now working on clearing water accumulation before attempting further debris removal.
The situation remains dire as officials confirm that nearly 200 meters of the tunnel are filled with debris, making access to the trapped workers extremely challenging. Efforts are underway to pump out water, a crucial step before the clearing process can begin. Jaiprakash Associates, a construction firm whose employees are among the trapped, has deployed pumps to drain the water. Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has acknowledged the difficulty of the operation, citing the last 200 meters of the tunnel as a major obstacle due to heavy slush. Authorities are considering multiple rescue strategies, including drilling from above, creating an alternative side entry, or continuing with the dewatering and desilting method. The trapped individuals include engineers from The Robbins Company, an American tunneling firm, and workers from JP Associates Ltd., hailing from different states, including Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab. The urgency of the operation has led to consultations with experts involved in the successful Silkyara tunnel rescue in Uttarakhand last year.
Despite the hazardous conditions inside, officials have confirmed that the tunnel’s ventilation system is still functioning, ensuring a continuous supply of oxygen to those trapped. Multiple teams, including personnel from NDRF, SDRF, Telangana Fire and Disaster Response, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), and Nagar Kurnool police, are working round-the-clock to strategize and execute the rescue. A team traveled 13 km inside the tunnel using a locomotive and conveyor belt before encountering a thick wall of debris blocking the way. The collapse, which occurred early Saturday morning, has prompted responses from top officials, including Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed his concern over the incident on social media. As rescue efforts intensify, the entire nation watches anxiously, hoping for the safe retrieval of the trapped workers. Authorities remain committed to exploring all possible options to ensure a successful rescue operation.
