Telangana Tunnel Collapse: Landslides, Water Ingress Hamper Efforts As Rescue Ops Enters Third Day — Updates

The Telangana government has enlisted the expertise of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) to assess tunnel’s stability and guide rescue efforts.

With the workers now stranded for the fourth consecutive day, concerns over their safety continue to grow.

Source : PTI

Telangana Tunnel Collapse: The ongoing rescue operation to save eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana has become increasingly challenging due to landslides and persistent water inflow. With the workers now stranded for the fourth consecutive day, concerns over their safety continue to grow.

The Telangana government has enlisted the expertise of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) to assess the tunnel’s stability and guide rescue efforts. Nagarkurnool District Collector B. Santhosh confirmed that while dewatering operations are in progress, the rescue teams are facing significant obstacles in clearing the final 50 meters due to accumulating debris and sludge.

"As of now we are not able to communicate with them (trapped). We are taking the advice of the Geological survey of India and some other people. As of now we are dewatering and going forward. But for the last 40 or 50 meters we are not able to go. As of now we are taking the advice of GSI and NGRI. L& T experts have also come here," the collector told PTI. He further noted that no communication has been established with the trapped workers, making the operation even more critical.

Growing Hurdles In Rescue Mission

The rescue teams are inching closer, yet the challenge has intensified as an additional meter of debris has piled up, making progress increasingly difficult. Experts warn that aggressive excavation could compromise the tunnel’s stability, risking further collapse. Reports of rocks shifting beneath the rubble have heightened fears of another potential cave-in.

A major concern is the relentless inflow of water, estimated at 3,200 liters per minute, which continues to create more mud and obstruct excavation efforts. Despite continuous pumping, the situation remains precarious.

To gain better insights into the trapped workers’ location, L&T engineers have deployed robotic and endoscopic cameras. Additionally, ground survey data from the National Remote Sensing Agency and GSI is being analyzed to prevent further mishaps.

A team of geologists has collected soil samples for lab analysis to assess whether further excavation is feasible without triggering additional collapses. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is using gas-cutting machines to clear tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) blocking the path. However, technical difficulties, including the deterioration of a critical conveyor belt, have slowed the operation.

Authorities have ruled out vertical drilling as a rescue option due to safety risks. Meanwhile, mobile phone signal tracking is being used to estimate the location of the trapped workers. Specially trained "rat-hole miners" have been deployed, along with sniffer dogs, but waterlogged conditions have rendered the dogs ineffective in detecting human presence.