Rescuers reach SLBC tunnel collapse, victims missing.
Rescuers at the SLBC tunnel collapse site have yet to establish communication with the eight trapped workers. Despite continuous efforts, there has been no response from those inside. Emergency teams are working around the clock, pumping oxygen into the tunnel to ensure the workers have sufficient air supply. Specialized equipment is being used to detect signs of life, but no contact has been made so far. The collapse has posed significant challenges, with debris blocking access to the workers. Authorities remain hopeful, emphasizing that oxygen supply is being maintained while rescue teams explore alternative ways to reach and extract the trapped individuals as quickly as possible.
SLBC Tunnel Roof Collapse: Rescuers Struggle to Reach Eight Trapped Workers
Nagarkurnool: In a significant breakthrough, rescue teams working tirelessly to reach the eight workers trapped for the past five days inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel managed to reach the far end of the tunnel before returning due to excessive debris, a senior police official confirmed on Wednesday, February 26.
Rescuers, including teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and expert Rat Miners, pushed their way through the collapsed section, reaching nearly 50 meters before the tunnel’s endpoint. However, the presence of thick muck and debris has slowed progress.
“A 20-member team comprising NDRF, SDRF, and Rat Miners was able to reach the last accessible point of the tunnel, but heavy debris remains a major challenge.
Gaikwad added that just a day earlier, rescuers had advanced up to 40 meters before the endpoint. The latest push has allowed them to surpass that distance, yet they have still not been able to locate the missing workers.
No Sign of the Trapped Workers Yet
Despite round-the-clock operations, there has been no communication or response from the eight workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel since the incident occurred on February 22. Efforts are ongoing to maintain oxygen levels inside the blocked section by continuously pumping air, but their condition remains unknown.
Geologists from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have been collecting soil samples to analyze the tunnel’s stability, but they are yet to submit a conclusive report. The delay has added to the uncertainty surrounding the rescue operation.
Experts from multiple agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, and GSI, are working relentlessly to find a breakthrough. However, the continuous flow of silt and water into the collapsed tunnel has increased the risks for rescuers, making the operation increasingly complex and dangerous.
State Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy acknowledged the immense challenges in the ongoing rescue mission. Speaking to the media, he said experts have described the operation as “one of the most complex and difficult rescue efforts in the world, or at least in India,” due to the SLBC tunnel having only a single entry and exit point.
Jaypee Group Chairman Comments on Risky Rescue Operations
Meanwhile, Jaiprakash Gaur, Founder Chairman of Jaypee Group—the company responsible for the tunnel boring contract—commented on the inherent dangers in such projects.
He recalled witnessing several similar accidents in his professional career. “In my lifetime, I have seen six to seven such accidents—in Tehri, Bhutan, Jammu & Kashmir, and other places. These things happen in complex projects, and we have to deal with them,” Gaur stated.
Among the eight trapped workers, two are engineers, while the remaining four are laborers employed by Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, the flagship company of Jaypee Group.
What Happened on February 22?
The tragic incident unfolded on the night of February 22 when the shift in-charge, sensing an unusual sound from the tunnel roof, instinctively ordered an evacuation. Acting on his intuition, he and several other workers ran for safety just moments before a massive collapse occurred.
A torrent of water, stones, sludge, and mud cascaded from the roof, rapidly filling a 300-meter stretch of the tunnel. In the aftermath of the chaos, a headcount was taken—revealing that eight workers, including two officers, were missing.
Emergency response teams, medical personnel, district administration officials, and specialists were immediately mobilized to launch a high-risk rescue operation. The race against time began, but five days later, the workers remain trapped with no communication established.
The Ongoing Battle to Save Lives
Rescuers are working against immense odds, dealing with unstable terrain, limited access, and continuous seepage of silt and water. Every hour is critical, and authorities are deploying all available resources to ensure the safety of both the trapped workers and the rescue teams.
While experts strategize the next phase of the operation, families of the missing workers wait anxiously, hoping for positive news. For now, the battle continues, with rescuers pushing forward in their determined effort to bring the trapped individuals to safety.