Rescue operations are underway in the southern state of Telangana in India to save eight construction workers who have been trapped in a collapsed tunnel for more than 72 hours.
The incident occurred early Saturday morning when a section of the roof of the tunnel on the 43 -kilometer left bank (SLBC) collapsed, trapping workers inside. Fifty workers were inside at the time of collapse, 43 managing to escape.
The efforts to reach the remaining eight men were hampered by unstable soil, mud and debris. The rescuers could not establish contact with workers or provide oxygen and essential supplies, which raises concerns about their survival.
Photo: Ani
Chances of distant survival
The Minister of State, Jappally, Krishna Rao, supervising rescue efforts, told the news agency PTI that “the chances of their survival are very distant”.
On Monday, a team of “rat hole minors” experts – was described as navigation of narrow tunnels – was deployed to erase debris. The same team had managed to save 41 construction workers trapped in a Uttarakhand tunnel after a landslide in 2023.
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The officials said that around 33 kilometers from the tunnel had been excavated so far, with remaining 10 kilometers.
Difficult rescue conditions
Rescuers use a train and carpet system to remove debris while continuously pumping water to maintain oxygen levels inside the tunnel. However, the accidental land has slowed the operation considerably.
The firefighters of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian army staff help the mission.
“We have covered 11 kilometers by train, 2 kilometers by the treadmill, and worked the rest of the path. But then we hit a roadblock. Mud mounds and a soft floor blocked our path. A boring machine was overturned, obstructing the whole passage beyond. “
The firefighter added that the team had shouted, whistled and pointed out of the torches in the hope of hearing a response from the workers trapped but received none.
Families expect news
While the rescue operation continues, the families of trapped workers – most daily salary workers – are impatiently awaiting updates.
“I just hope that my son will come back safe. I will never send him back to win,” said Rampratap Sahu, a Jharkhand State resident.
The accident occurred 13 kilometers from the entrance to the tunnel when a concrete slab covering infiltration in the roof has slipped and collapsed. At least 12 workers were injured in the incident.
The SLBC tunnel is part of the oldest irrigation project in Telangana, located in a hilly and wooded region, passing through the Nagarjuna Sagarjuna-Srisailam tiger reserve, the largest in India.
Construction work had resumed four days before collapse after being blocked for almost three years.
