Recent hurdles delay rescue of 8 trapped in Telangana tunnel even after 60 hours

The Srisailam Left Financial institution Canal (SLBC) undertaking website the place a portion of the tunnel collapsed, over the continuing rescue operations, in Nagarkurnool district on Monday (February 24, 2025).
| Picture Credit score: NAGARA GOPAL

HYDERABAD

Uncertainty over the protection and survival of the eight individuals — two engineers, two technical workers and 4 employees — trapped 14 km contained in the Srisailam Left Financial institution Canal (SLBC) tunnel close to Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana is rising by the hour as their situation stays unknown even after 60 hours (until 8 p.m. on Monday).

Regardless of all of the laborious work and round the clock efforts by the joint rescue groups comprising personnel from Central, State and different businesses, they’re unable to cross the final 150-metre barrier attributable to new hardships coming of their method continuously. A number of members had been capable of attain the tunnel boring machine (TBM), now coated with particles, together with mud, however couldn’t use the devices they took inside to hint the whereabouts of the trapped individuals.

A view from contained in the Srisailam Left Financial institution Canal tunnel the place a portion of the tunnel collapsed in Nagarkurnool district on Monday (February 24, 2025).
| Picture Credit score:
NAGARA GOPAL

The 12-metre TBM head portion was mentioned to be damaged into two elements and there was a “protected container” within the head portion for employees taking shelter in emergency conditions. It isn’t identified whether or not the eight individuals went into that container or not because the roof slabs got here off and seepage of water turned intensive.

Groups from L&T, IIT Madras and Uttarakhand, who dealt with the Silkyara tunnel collapse in 2023, have joined the rescue operation together with the digital devices, along with the Military, Navy, NDRF, SDRF and NHIDCL personnel already concerned within the operation.

Rescue groups collect outdoors the Srisailam Left Financial institution Canal tunnel the place a portion of the tunnel collapsed in Nagarkurnool district on Monday (February 24, 2025).
| Picture Credit score:
NAGARA GOPAL

In line with officers of the Telangana Irrigation Division, the situation on the TBM tail-point was reviewed by the businesses concerned within the rescue operation and exploring the chances of removing of the particles on the TBM and whether or not its removing might result in extra mud/slush falling on it because the seepage of water from the roof has elevated after the accident induced as a result of pre-fabricated bolstered cement-concrete slabs coming off from the roof.

Treading the final 150 metres is proving to be a herculean process as a result of slush piled up on the tunnel flooring and the fixed seepage of water with rising depth is said to be making the duty of rescue groups troublesome. “The tunnel size after 13.8 km from the mouth is roofed with 6-7 ft peak slush on the ground,” a senior official coordinating the operation mentioned.

A view of the Srisailam Left Financial institution Canal undertaking website the place a portion of the tunnel collapsed, in Nagarkurnool district on Monday (February 24, 2025).
| Picture Credit score:
NAGARA GOPAL

Elimination of particles and muck together with steady dewatering has develop into crucial for the rescue group to make an additional headway. It’s the conveyor belt that’s used to carry out the fabric (soil combined with stones) excavated by the TBM is getting used because the ramp by the rescue groups for going past the final level until the place the locomotive is operated.