HYDERABAD: Telangana’s govt set a two-day deadline from Wednesday evening for the team of experts working to trace the eight workers buried under the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel since Feb 22.
“We have not lost hope and are working in the belief that they (the workers) are still alive,” said Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy even as the state mobilised an array of specialised forces, including the Indian Army, Marine Commando Force, special forces of the Indian Navy,Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and rat miners, to carry out rescue operations.
On Wednesday afternoon, tunnel experts and disaster management officials inspected the tunnel. The team included BRO tunnel expert Col Parikshit Mehra, BRO former DG Gen Harpal Singh, and BRO former ADG KP Purushothaman, along with NDRF personnel.
According to Uttam Kumar Reddy, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that malfunctioned during the accident will be cut into pieces using gas-cutters and welding machines and removed from the tunnel. Meanwhile, the accumulated fine silt will be cleared manually and with the help of a small Bobcat machine.
Silt removal will begin from the far end of the tunnel, progressing towards the entry point. Additionally, two 100 HP pumps will be employed to dewater the tunnel and manage the silt, Uttam said at Domalapenta, near the tunnel site.
Govt is also exploring alternative access routes to expedite the rescue operation.
This includes a proposal to create a bypass around 300 meters from the TBM area and reach the trapped workers by drilling. This bypass would facilitate the movement of manpower and machinery to the collapsed section of the tunnel where the roof gave way and where the TBM parts are now lodged, officials said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy acknowledged that the scale of slush inside the tunnel had slowed down rescue efforts, but emphasised that the safety of the rescuers was govt’s top priority. He said, “We assessed the situation thoroughly and devised clear strategies to minimise risk for the rescuers and move forward efficiently.”
Real-time monitoring of tunnel conditions is underway, with advanced imaging systems in place to assess structural stability.
This ensures that rescue teams can continue their efforts without jeopardising their safety or that of the trapped workers.
Earlier in the day, ministers Uttam and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy met senior officials, including Col Mehra, Navy officer VK Prasad, NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi, rat miners and BRO representatives to discuss effective ways to expedite the rescue operation.
