Telangana tunnel collapse: Hopes fade for survivors.
The rescue operation at the collapsed tunnel in Telangana has become increasingly challenging as the tunnel remained flooded with water for nearly two kilometers. This unexpected flooding has severely hampered the efforts of rescue teams, making it difficult to navigate through the debris and reach those trapped inside. Authorities have deployed advanced equipment, including high-power pumps, to drain the water and facilitate access to the affected area. However, the sheer volume of water and the unstable structure of the tunnel continue to pose significant obstacles.
Rescue personnel have been working tirelessly, but progress has been slow due to the continuous inflow of water, which has made the passage inside highly dangerous. Engineers and experts are assessing alternative strategies to speed up the rescue operation while ensuring the safety of the personnel involved. Families of the trapped workers remain anxious, hoping for positive news despite the deteriorating conditions.
Officials have assured that every possible effort is being made to locate and rescue the missing individuals. Additional resources, including divers and specialized rescue teams, have been mobilized to enhance operations. The government is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to overcome the challenges posed by the flooding.
Hyderabad: Hopes of finding the eight trapped workers alive in the under-construction tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district were fading, even as rescue teams from NDRF, Army, and other agencies continued operations on Monday. The Telangana tunnel collapse has turned into a massive rescue effort with national forces working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals.
More than 48 hours after the Telangana tunnel collapse, the fate of the eight men, including two engineers and two machine operators, remains unknown. Teams of the Indian Air Force and Navy are arriving at Srisailam in three helicopters from Visakhapatnam to join the rescue efforts. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel managed to reach the tunnel boring machine at the 14th-kilometer point, but heaps of debris have significantly hampered the search operation.
The tunnel remained flooded with water for about two kilometers, making the rescue mission even more difficult. More than 300 workers are involved in the rescue operation, deploying heavy motors for dewatering. The Telangana tunnel collapse has created an extremely challenging scenario for rescue personnel, who are racing against time to save the trapped workers.
Further complications arose when the loco train used to move into the tunnel broke down at the 11th kilometer. Efforts are underway to repair it and restore access. The Telangana tunnel collapse has required extensive resources, and agencies including NDRF, Army, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) are working together to dewater and desilt the affected tunnel.
Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao, who are supervising the rescue operations, personally entered the tunnel via a loco train on Sunday. Upon emerging, Jupally Krishna Rao informed media that no voices had been heard from the trapped workers, raising concerns. However, oxygen was being supplied into the tunnel, keeping hope alive amid the grim situation of the Telangana tunnel collapse.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy assured that all possible measures were being taken to bring the trapped men to safety. Authorities are also exploring the feasibility of reaching the site by digging from the top. The Telangana tunnel collapse has presented multiple technical difficulties, requiring innovative solutions and coordinated efforts from various agencies.
The Telangana tunnel collapse occurred when a portion of the tunnel being excavated as part of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project collapsed near Domalapenta. Two workers sustained injuries while eight others were trapped inside. At the time of the Telangana tunnel collapse, 50 workers were inside the left-side tunnel when the roof caved in over a three-meter stretch at the 14th km point. While 42 workers managed to escape, the remaining eight were trapped, leading to an urgent and large-scale rescue effort.
The trapped individuals include two engineers and two machine operators, along with four laborers from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. Among those trapped in the Telangana tunnel collapse are Project Manager Manoj Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Machine Engineer Srinivas (Uttar Pradesh), Machine Operator Sunny Singh (J&K), and Machine Operator Gurpreet Singh (Punjab). The other four workers from Jharkhand are Sandeep Sahu, Santosh Sahu, Anju Sahu, and Jagta Khes.
The Telangana tunnel collapse has also raised concerns regarding safety protocols at the construction site. The state government had recently resumed construction on the tunnel to complete this long-pending project. The construction firm had only restarted work four days before the Telangana tunnel collapse, and on Saturday morning, 50 workers entered the tunnel to continue excavation efforts.
Rescue teams are working relentlessly to pump out water, clear debris, and gain access to the trapped workers. The Telangana tunnel collapse has drawn national attention, with the government monitoring the situation closely. Families of the missing workers are anxiously awaiting updates, as officials continue to deploy resources to expedite the rescue operation.
The Telangana tunnel collapse has highlighted the importance of safety regulations in large-scale infrastructure projects. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the collapse once the rescue operation concludes. Meanwhile, rescue teams are leaving no stone unturned to locate and save the missing workers.
With the Telangana tunnel collapse proving to be a formidable challenge, rescue operations remain ongoing as officials explore every possible method to reach the trapped individuals. The entire nation watches as teams work against time, hoping for a miracle amid the devastation caused by the Telangana tunnel collapse.