Hyderabad: In Telangana, rescuers are tirelessly trying to free eight workers who have been trapped for more than 48 hours in a collapsed tunnel behind Srisailam dam in Nagarkurnool, Telangana. With continual blockage, chances of survival seem to be getting darker and darker as water and debris impede rescue operations. There has been a description of their condition as “very, very unlikely” from state minister in charge of their operation, however, the operation is still under way to get in contact with them.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
The tunnel originally destined for 44 km in length caved early Saturday morning when repairers of a leak were at work. Although some people managed to get out in time, eight people, among them four labourers and four employees of the construction company, are still to be contacted since that. Their destiny is still unknown, further intensifying the need for the rescue operation.
Massive Rescue Efforts Underway
There is an ongoing large-scale rescue effort in process, involving the assistance of many agencies. Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state disaster response teams have been stationed at the location. Witnessing this, further commandos of the Indian Navy have also deployed to provide assistance, as they are specially trained for underwater rescue operations.
Among the responders are six members of the elite team who previously executed the high-profile Silkyara tunnel rescue operation in Uttarakhand in 2023. Their experience of dealing with related tunnel collapses has been instrumental in helping them understand how to move around inside the failed structure.
Challenges Facing the Rescuers
The rescue operation has been fraught with obstacles. The collapse took place in ~13 km distance to the tunnel portal, and rescue teams have been advancing progressively, up to the last 100 m. Nonetheless, there is a huge accumulation of muck and stagnant water, which is seriously restricting movement.
What’s inside is so muck that it’s hard to walk. Rescuers are travelling with rubber tubes and wooden planks. The conditions are extremely hard and unfortunately the chances of survivability are highly, highly unlikely. However, we are hopeful and not leaving anything behind,” said state minister Krishna Rao, in charge of the rescue operation.
Unforeseen, a significant issue is the instability of the tunnel’s structure. According to the reports, cracks in the tunnel walls allow water to penetrate in and aggravate the condition. Engineers have noted the critical need for de-watering equipment to remove flood water. Increasing the danger is the movement of boulders within the collapsed tunnel, which indicates that the ceiling is still very much unstable.
Government and Leadership Response
The crisis is being closely watched both at the central and state levels. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has been in touch with senior level officials, and constantly monitoring the situation along with guiding additional resources, if required. It has been confirmed by his office, as steps are being taken in order to create a drain of water inside the tunnel and provide oxygen to the trapped people.
The opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, who represents the ruling Congress party in Telangana, personally reached out to the Chief Minister to get updates on the situation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the state of full support from the central government.
Hopes for a Breakthrough
Emergency workers are still searching for alternative roads of access to the trapped workers. Based on the situation, heavy machinery has been moved to clear debris and the tunnel wall reinforcements are underway to prevent further closures. Notwithstanding a terrifying perspective, officers and rescue crews still persevere in their quest to discover and evacuate the missing personnel safely.
As the rescue operation enters a critical phase, families of the trapped workers anxiously await any news. Nationwide, the public is following the fight against time and nature to avoid a catastrophic event that will claim more victims.
In this evolving scenario, the situation is still a top priority and subsequent updates will be issued as the rescue operations go on.
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