On Saturday, a tragic incident occurred in Telangana when a portion of an under-construction tunnel collapsed, leaving at least six workers feared trapped. The accident happened near the Srisailam dam in Nagarkurnool district, where workers were repairing a leak in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project. This canal is part of a significant irrigation project aimed at providing water to Nalgonda district from the Srisailam reservoir.
Incident Details
The collapse occurred about 12-13 kilometers inside the tunnel when around three meters of its roof caved in. Three workers managed to escape safely, but several others are still trapped under debris. The rescue operation is currently underway with teams from the construction company and local authorities working together to bring those trapped to safety.
According to reports, work on this section of the tunnel had resumed just four days ago after being halted temporarily. The sudden collapse has raised concerns about safety measures and structural integrity during construction projects.
Response from Authorities
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the incident and immediately directed officials to rush to the site for relief operations. He instructed District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Fire Department officials, and other relevant agencies like Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to provide assistance promptly.
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy also visited the site via helicopter along with other officials from his department. Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy has sought details about what caused this accident and urged swift action for rescuing those trapped while ensuring medical care for any injured individuals.
Challenges Ahead
Rescue efforts are challenging due to limited access inside the tunnel. Assessment teams have entered but detailed information on those trapped remains unclear until they emerge or communicate effectively with rescue personnel outside.
In similar incidents elsewhere in India, such as recent rescues in Uttarakhand's Silkyara Tunnel collapse last year where all 41 workers were eventually rescued after extensive efforts involving specialized equipment like endoscopic cameras and pipes for food supply, it highlights both challenges faced by rescuers and their determination.
With inputs from agencies
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