Telangana Tunnel Collapse: U'khand Rat Miners Called To Rescue 8 Trapped Workers As Survival Chances ‘Very Remote’
Telangana Minister J Krishna Rao said the rescue process is expected to take at least 3-4 days due to the large amount of muck and debris at the accident site, posing challenges for the teams involved.
Eight people were trapped after a section of a tunnel collapsed on Saturday at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district, about 150 km from Hyderabad. In response to ongoing situations and reacting over the updates, Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao stated on Monday that the chances of survival for those still trapped in the tunnel remain "very remote," despite ongoing rescue efforts.
He added that a team of rat miners, known for their successful rescue of workers from the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has joined the operation to help extricate the trapped individuals. According to the Minister, the rescue process is expected to take at least three to four days due to the large amount of muck and debris at the accident site, posing significant challenges for the teams involved.
"To be honest, the chances of their survival are very, very, very, very remote. Because, I myself went up to the end, almost just 50 meters short (of the mishap site). When we took photographs, the end (of the tunnel) was visible. And out of the 9 meter diameter (of the tunnel)--almost 30 feet, out of that 30 feet, mud has piled up up to 25 feet", he told the news agency PTI. "When we shouted their names also, there was no response...so, there is no chance at all," he added.
Krishna Rao confirmed that the process of clearing the debris is underway with the assistance of multiple machines. And, the conveyor belt was being restored at the tunnel in order to clear the debris.
One of the rat miners, part of the rescue operation said" We have come from Delhi...we will go inside along with the NDRF and SDRF teams. We will be able to say something when we see the situation inside...our 12-member team rescued the labourers when an incident took place in Uttarakhand during Diwali...we took part in the last 26-hour operation...that situation was different from here...there is difficulty due to water...it might take some time, but we hope that we will succeed"
#WATCH | A rat miner says, " We have come from Delhi...we will go inside along with the NDRF and SDRF teams. We will be able to say something when we see the situation inside...our 12-member team rescued the labourers when an incident took place in Uttarakhand during Diwali...we… pic.twitter.com/ziXEeDOZxk
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2025
A 19-member team from state-owned coal mining firm, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) has also been called in to assist in the rescue operations.
Development So Far:
Despite continuous efforts by the Indian Army, NDRF, and other agencies, no significant progress has been made in rescuing the eight individuals trapped inside the SLBC tunnel for over 48 hours.
A specialised team of rat miners, known for their successful rescue mission at the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has also joined the operation to assist in extracting the trapped workers.
A social media update from the Telangana Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated that CM Revanth Reddy has been closely monitoring the SLBC tunnel rescue efforts. He remains in constant communication with ministers and senior officials involved in the operation, instructing them to exhaust all possible measures to save the trapped individuals. The Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, SDRF, and other agencies are actively engaged in the mission.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that water seeping into the tunnel has complicated rescue operations. While dewatering efforts are underway, oxygen is being continuously supplied inside. Authorities are also exploring alternative routes to reach the accident site by clearing debris from soil mounds within the tunnel.
In an official statement on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi praised the government's response and constant monitoring of the situation, urging authorities to make every possible effort to save the workers.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren reached out to CM Revanth Reddy, requesting maximum assistance as four of the trapped workers are from Jharkhand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called CM Revanth Reddy to inquire about the situation and assured full support from the central government for the ongoing rescue operation.
ALSO READ | Rat Miners Who Rescued Workers In Uttarakhand Called In For Telangana Tunnel Op. Who Are They?
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