Telangana Tunnel Collapse: Dedicated Rescue Teams Struggle to Make Progress as No Major Breakthrough Reported by 8 P.M.
The desperate search for eight workers trapped inside the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district continues, with rescue teams facing significant obstacles. Among those assisting in the operation are six experts from the Silkyara tunnel rescue team, known for their heroic efforts in saving 41 workers from the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in November 2023.
As the operation stretches beyond 36 hours with little success, the families of the trapped workers remain anxious, clinging to hope that their loved ones will be rescued soon. The teams on-site, including the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local agencies, are working tirelessly to clear debris and establish contact with those inside. However, conditions inside the tunnel remain treacherous, with fears that parts of the concrete slab may have collapsed onto the workers.
No Contact with Trapped Workers Yet
The rescue teams have so far been unable to establish communication with the eight men inside the tunnel. They are stationed just outside the roof collapse site, 13.5 km inside the tunnel, but the lack of response from the trapped workers raises concerns about their well-being.
Authorities are exploring all possible options to reach them safely. The experience of the Silkyara team, who successfully rescued 41 workers after 17 days underground, has brought renewed hope. However, unlike the Uttarakhand incident, where an alternate access route was created, the Telangana rescue faces additional challenges such as silt and water accumulation, making excavation even more difficult.
Major Obstacles Slowing the Rescue Efforts
Despite round-the-clock efforts, rescuers are facing multiple challenges that are hindering their progress:
- Unstable Debris: There is a high risk of further collapses, making it dangerous for rescue teams to dig through the rubble too quickly.
- Silt and Water Accumulation: Water and silt deposits inside the tunnel have made excavation efforts slow and complicated.
- Limited Access: The collapse occurred deep inside the tunnel, 13.5 km from the entrance, making it harder to deploy heavy machinery.
- Communication Failure: Unlike in some past rescue missions where workers could at least signal their presence, there has been no response from those trapped inside as of late Sunday.
- Oxygen and Survival Concerns: The longer the rescue takes, the more oxygen levels inside the tunnel could become a critical issue.
Families Hold onto Hope as Authorities Scramble for Solutions
The trapped workers’ families have been gathering near the site, anxiously waiting for updates. Many have expressed their frustration at the slow progress, while others remain hopeful that the expert teams will manage to rescue their loved ones just like in Silkyara.
A family member of one of the trapped workers said, “It’s been too long. We don’t even know if they are safe. We just want them to come out alive.”
Government officials, engineers, and rescue experts are monitoring the situation closely, assessing every possible method to speed up the process without putting the workers or the rescue teams in further danger.
Lessons from Silkyara: Can the Same Strategy Work Here?
The Silkyara tunnel rescue in Uttarakhand was a historic success that demonstrated how advanced drilling techniques and careful planning could save trapped workers. However, the Telangana collapse presents a different set of challenges, making it unclear if the same approach can be used effectively.
In the Silkyara case, a drilling machine was used to create an escape route, but the SLBC tunnel’s structural instability and water logging might require a different strategy. Nonetheless, the presence of Silkyara’s rescue experts at the Telangana site has boosted confidence that a breakthrough will come soon.
Government and Authorities Under Pressure
With the clock ticking, authorities are under mounting pressure to accelerate the operation. The Telangana government has launched an investigation into the collapse, looking into potential safety lapses that may have contributed to the incident. If negligence is found, strict action will be taken against those responsible.
Meanwhile, additional resources and reinforcements have been dispatched to the site to assist in the operation. Officials are also considering alternative rescue methods, including the use of specialized tunneling equipment to bypass the collapsed section.
Conclusion
As the rescue operation enters another critical phase, all eyes remain on the progress of the teams working inside the tunnel. The next few hours will be crucial in determining whether a breakthrough can be achieved soon.
