HYDERABAD: The government of Telangana has mandated a two-day deadline starting Wednesday evening for a team of specialists working to locate the eight laborers trapped under the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel since February 22.
"We have not given up hope and are working under the belief that they (the workers) are still alive," remarked Telangana’s irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy. In efforts to carry out the rescue operations, the state has mobilized numerous specialized forces, including the Indian Army, Marine Commando Force, Indian Navy’s special forces, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and rat miners.
On Wednesday afternoon, a team of tunnel experts and disaster management officials inspected the tunnel. This group included BRO tunnel specialist Col Parikshit Mehra, former BRO DG Gen Harpal Singh, and former BRO ADG KP Purushothaman, alongside NDRF personnel.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that malfunctioned during the accident will be dismantled into sections using gas-cutters and welding equipment for removal from the tunnel. The accumulated fine silt will be cleared manually and with the help of a small Bobcat machine.
The silt removal will commence from the furthest end of the tunnel, moving towards the entry point. Additionally, two 100 HP pumps will be utilized to dewater the tunnel and handle the silt, according to Uttam at the Domalapenta site near the tunnel.
The government is also considering alternative access routes to speed up the rescue mission. This includes plans to create a bypass approximately 300 meters away from the TBM area to reach the trapped workers by drilling. The proposed bypass would ease the movement of personnel and machinery to the collapsed section of the tunnel where the roof collapsed, and where parts of the TBM are currently stuck, as explained by officials.
Uttam Kumar Reddy acknowledged that the amount of sludge inside the tunnel has hampered rescue efforts but emphasized that the safety of the rescuers remains the government’s top priority. He expressed, "We have thoroughly evaluated the situation and developed clear strategies to minimize hazards for the rescuers and advance efficiently."
Real-time monitoring of the tunnel’s conditions is currently in place, with advanced imaging systems implemented to assess structural integrity. This ensures that rescue teams can persist in their mission without compromising their safety or that of the trapped workers.
Earlier in the day, Ministers Uttam and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy convened with senior officials, including Col Mehra, Navy officer VK Prasad, NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi, rat miners, and representatives from BRO to discuss effective methods to accelerate the rescue operation.
