SLBC Tunnel Collapse: Rescue operation 40 meters away from workers on the fourth day of the tunnel accident, GSI-NGRI experts called

The chances of survival of eight workers trapped there after a part of the tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project collapsed on Saturday in the Nagarkurnool district of Telangana are continuously decreasing. Due to the constantly rising water level and mud, a lot of difficulties are being faced in the rescue operation. To suggest the way forward to save the eight people, the help of experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) has been taken.

GSI and NGRI experts joined the rescue operation

An official said on Tuesday that eight people are still trapped for the fourth day, so experts from GSI and NGRI have been included in the rescue efforts. Nagarkurnool District Collector B. Santosh said on Tuesday that the stability of the tunnel has been kept in mind before taking any further steps and the work of removing water is going on. Apart from experts from the Geological Survey of India and the National Geographical Research Institute, the Australian unit of L&T has also been included. Who has extensive experience with tunnels?

The District Magistrate said, till now we have not been able to contact them (the trapped people). We are taking advice from the Geological Survey of India and some others. Right now we are draining out the water and moving forward. But we have not been able to reach the last 40 or 50 meters. Till now we are taking advice from GSI and NGRI. Experts from L&T have also come here.

He said that this team was not able to reach the last fifty meters, where eight people were trapped, because mud and debris had accumulated there. Apart from GSI and NGRI, an Australian expert associated with L&T has also been called to the accident site to assess the stability of the SLBC tunnel, and has extensive experience in tunnel-related works. Sources said that Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy may reach the accident site today to monitor the rescue operations and take some important decisions.

'Rat Miners' included in the team.

According to reports, the tunnel boring machine has moved about 200 meters due to rising water. Apart from this, the conveyor belt removing the debris has also been damaged. Due to this the rescue operation had to be stopped for some time. A team of 'Rat Miners', who rescued the workers trapped in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has joined the rescue teams to rescue the people trapped in the SLBC tunnel. The Chief Minister of Telangana has directed the officials that no stone should be left unturned in the efforts to rescue the trapped people.

A team of 584 skilled personnel deployed

Despite the tireless efforts of the Indian Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other agencies, the rescue operation has not achieved any success so far. A team of 584 skilled personnel from the Army, Navy, Singareni Collieries, and other agencies, along with the Central and State Disaster Response Team, have inspected the tunnel seven times. He said gas cutters are working continuously to cut the metal rods.

Sniffer dogs were also brought in to locate people inside the tunnel, but they could not move forward due to the presence of water. According to media reports, the rising water level and mudflow are making rescue operations very difficult.

Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said the chances of survival of the people trapped in the tunnel were "very slim" and it would take at least three to four days to rescue them as the accident site is filled with mud and debris, making it difficult for rescue workers to work.