Telangana Tunnel Collapse: 8 Workers Still trapped, NDRF Intensifies Rescue Ops

Hyderabad: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) intensified its rescue operations on Sunday morning as eight workers are still feared to be trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana. However, due to debris blocking the area, the exact location of the workers has not been confirmed, according to NDRF officials.

NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta stated that the team had covered around 13.5 kilometres inside the tunnel, using locomotives and conveyor belts.

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He said, "Yesterday around 10 PM we went inside to check what the situation is like. The locomotives were used to go inside the tunnel. From the gate of the tunnel, we covered around 13.5 km in total. We covered 11 km by train and then we covered the rest of 2 km by conveyor belt and by walking."

Datta added, that the last 200 meters of the collapsed section is completely blocked by debris, making it difficult to confirm the condition or exact location of the trapped workers.

"We had reached till the end of the Tunnel Boring Machine, TBM. We shouted and tried to get any reply from the trapped workers but unfortunately we could not know anything because there is a patch of around 200 meters which is filled with debris. Till the debris is cleared we cannot know the exact location of the victims."

The rescue team is currently working to remove accumulated water from the tunnel.

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"The area between the 11 to 13 km mark is flooded, and we are focused on draining the water before resuming rescue efforts," Datta said.

The incident occurred on Saturday morning when a three-meter section of the tunnel roof collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana. The collapse happened just days after construction work resumed following a long hiatus. While some workers managed to escape, eight remain trapped.

In addition to the NDRF and SDRF, an Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army has been placed on standby, ready to assist in the rescue operation with specialized equipment, including an Excavator Dozer. The Army's Engineer Task Force (ETF), mobilised in response to a request from the Chief Secretary of Telangana, is equipped with a medical detachment, high-capacity pumping sets, armoured hoses, and other vital tools to support the ongoing rescue efforts.