Telangana tunnel collapse: Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka holds meeting with rescue team
Telangana tunnel collapse: A portion of the SLBC tunnel collapsed in the Nagarkurnool district on February 22, leaving the workers trapped.
Telangana tunnel collapse: Rescuers are battling to pull out eight workers who are stuck inside a Telangana tunnel for over 72 hours, after a portion of the tunnel collapsed on February 22 in the southern state's Nagarkurnool district. ...Read More
On Monday, Telangana minister Jupally Krishna Rao said the chances of survival of the trapped individuals are “very remote,” and rescuing them would take “at least three to four days,” as the accident site is filled with muck and debris, making it a daunting task for the rescuers.
Rao also mentioned that a team of rat miners, who had rescued the construction workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has joined the rescue work.
“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 accident 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,” the minister stated.
“When we shouted their names also, there was no response...so, there (seems to be) no chance at all,” he added.
The persons who have been trapped in the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project tunnel have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh (Jammu and Kashmir), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab) and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.
Of the eight, two are engineers, two operators and four labourers.
Follow all the updates here:
- Feb 26, 2025 05:09 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Experts from 11 agencies conducting rescue operations
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy cited experts, who described this as the most complex and difficult tunnel rescue operation in the world or at least in India as there is only one entry or exit to the SLBC tunnel.
Minister Reddy noted that experts from 11 agencies such as the Indian Army, the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS) of the Navy, NDRF, SDRF, GSI, Rat Miners and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd are working round the clock to save the eight lives.
- Feb 26, 2025 04:20 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Jammu family anxiously awaits return of trapped son
Four days after eight workers got trapped in a partially collapsed SLBC tunnel in Telangana, a family near the international border in Jammu is eagerly awaiting the safe return of their son and prayed for speeding up the rescue efforts, PTI reported.
- Feb 26, 2025 02:28 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Rescuers inch closer to trapped workers
Specialised trench hole miners who helped rescue 41 workers in the 2023 Silkyara tunnel collapse reached the suspected location of eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana on Tuesday evening, but found no visible signs of the men on the surface.
The miners suspect the workers are buried within approximately 12 feet of slush and debris, complicating an already challenging rescue operation that has entered its fourth day.
- Feb 26, 2025 01:24 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Water poses threat in rescue operations, says expe
Addressing media persons, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy cited experts, who described this as the most complex and difficult tunnel rescue operation in the world or at least in India as there is only one entry or exit to the SLBC tunnel.
"There is one problem. The flow of slit and water into the tunnel at a very high speed continues. So there was one opinion expressed by some experts that the people going into the rescue, even their lives could be endangered. So, we are a responsible government, we are taking the best expert opinion, and we will take a final call on that (on how to go about it)," he said.
- Feb 25, 2025 09:59 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Visuals from Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Rescue operations entered the fourth day at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, where efforts are ongoing to save workers trapped inside after a section collapsed on February 22.
- Feb 25, 2025 08:14 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Congress ministers and workers monitoring the situation, party leader says
Congress leader Balram Naik says all ministers and party workers monitoring the situation. “All the ministers and workers of the party are continuously monitoring the situation there, and soon we will be able to rescue all the workers trapped inside the SLBC tunnel,” he told ANI.
- Feb 25, 2025 07:48 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: BRS slams Congress govt, demands judicial inquiry
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Accusing the Congress government of negligence, Telangana’s main opposition, BRS, demanded a judicial inquiry into the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel accident, where eight people have been trapped for four days.
BRS working president K T Rama Rao called for the immediate formation of a judicial commission, led by a sitting High Court judge, to investigate the incident.
In a statement, he criticised chief minister A Revanth Reddy, alleging that he was more focused on campaigning for the MLC polls than overseeing relief efforts at the tunnel.
He further claimed that the state government allowed tunnel construction without securing necessary approvals from Geological Survey of India (GSI) experts.
- Feb 25, 2025 06:56 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Mishap occurred just four days after construction work began
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: A three-meter section of the roof in an under-construction stretch of the SLBC tunnel collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana, on Saturday morning. The collapse happened just four days after construction work resumed following a long pause. While some workers managed to escape, eight remain trapped.
As part of the ongoing rescue efforts, endoscopic and robotic cameras were brought to the SLBC tunnel site on Monday. Additionally, the NDRF Dog Squad has been deployed to aid the operation.
The Indian Army's Engineer Task Force (ETF) has also mobilised equipment and medical teams to clear debris and ensure the safe evacuation of those trapped in the collapsed tunnel.
- Feb 25, 2025 06:37 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: There is only ‘one entry/exit’ to the tunnel, says minister
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Addressing the media, Telangana irrigation minister referred to experts who called the rescue operation one of the most complex globally or at least in India, given the tunnel has only one entry and exit.
He suggested that the collapse could have been triggered by a minor tectonic shift or the failure of certain geological fault lines.
- Feb 25, 2025 06:21 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: ‘There cannot be more disgraceful politics,’ says minister on criticism over mishap
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana Minister Uttam Reddy lashed out at those criticizing the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse that left eight workers trapped inside. “Anybody who is criticizing, please remember, there cannot be more disgraceful politics. It is shameful that somebody talks about it,” he said.
He recalled past incidents, including the fire accident at the Srisailam Left Bank Power Plant that claimed eight lives and the Kaleshwaram Project mishap that killed seven during the BRS regime, emphasising that they never blamed the then government.
Despite ongoing efforts by multiple agencies, no breakthrough has been made in the rescue operation. Thick muck, tangled iron rods, and cement blocks have continued to obstruct access to the trapped individuals since the tunnel's partial collapse on Saturday morning.
- Feb 25, 2025 06:11 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana minister Uttam Reddy says ‘People are relentlessly working’
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: When asked about the current situation, Telangana minister Uttam Reddy said, “People are relentlessly working in the tunnel. We are getting videos and pictures. They are being assessed by the experts. We will take a combined collective decision.”
He confirmed that while there has been no direct contact with the trapped individuals, oxygen is being continuously pumped into the tunnel. Reddy emphasized that the state government is committed to rescuing them, utilizing the best talent available in India and globally.
Responding to criticism from the BRS that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, despite visiting Delhi 36 times, has not visited the site even after 72 hours, Uttam Reddy dismissed it as “disgraceful politics.”
- Feb 25, 2025 05:27 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: ‘The flow of slit and water into the tunnel at a very high speed continues,’ says minister
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Tuesday that the continuous inflow of silt and water into the tunnel at high speed posed a major challenge.
He mentioned that some experts had expressed concerns about the safety of the rescue teams, warning that their lives could also be at risk. “So, we are a responsible government, we are taking the best expert opinion, and we will take a final call on that (on how to go about it),” he said.
The minister highlighted that experts from 10 agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy’s MARCOS commandos, NDRF, SDRF, GSI, Rat Miners, and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd, are working tirelessly to rescue the eight trapped individuals.
- Feb 25, 2025 05:01 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: BRS leader KT Rama Rao demands judicial probe into mishap
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Speaking on the SLBC tunnel mishap in Nagarkurnool, BRS Working President and MLA KT Rama Rao demanded immediate action from the Congress government in Telangana. He alleged that a series of mishaps had occurred due to the government’s and concerned department’s negligence.
KTR, speaking to ANI, pointed out that the retaining wall of the Sunkishala project had collapsed, causing damages worth hundreds of crores, and now, the SLBC Left Bank Canal tunnel had collapsed, leaving eight people trapped for over 72 hours.
He urged the government to immediately form a judicial commission led by a sitting high court judge to ensure transparency. He also highlighted concerns over reports and rumours circulating in the media and among opposition parties, suggesting that the government had failed to take scientific measures before resuming work on the project after four years.
- Feb 25, 2025 04:17 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: ‘One of the toughest operations, should not be politicised,’ says state minister
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said the government is making every effort to save lives. He emphasised the importance of the 44 km Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, calling it a "boon to the people and farmers of Telangana."
Criticising those politicising the incident, he remarked, "Do they want everything to be politics? It is shameful." He further said that NDRF, SDRF, and rat miners consider this one of the most difficult operations in the world, adding, "This tunnel has an exit only on one side. This incident has happened probably due to a tectonic shift."
Reddy highlighted that 10 agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy’s MARCOS commandos, NDRF, SDRF, and NHAI, are working together on the rescue. Reaffirming the government's commitment, he said, "We all are overseeing the operation. Anyone who is criticising this operation should have shame."
- Feb 25, 2025 03:32 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Dy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka holds meeting with rescue team
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, along with Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Venkat Reddy, and Jupalli, held a meeting with rescue teams, including NDRF, SDRF personnel, and other officials, at the SLBC Tunnel in Nagarkurnool.
Earlier in the day, the Telangana government brought in experts from GSI and NGRI to advise on the rescue operation for the eight workers trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel, which partially collapsed on Saturday.
- Feb 25, 2025 02:49 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Congress Bhuvanagiri MP says ‘government is tirelessly working to the trapped men’
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Speaking about the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool, Congress Bhuvanagiri MP Chamala Kiran Kumar told ANI that the government is making continuous efforts to rescue the trapped workers.
He mentioned that Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy are closely monitoring the situation, while rescue teams are working to clear the debris.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had inquired about the incident. "We are deploying all possible resources to rescue the workers," he added.
- Feb 25, 2025 02:02 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Food, water taken inside tunnel for rescue workers
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Various teams are going inside the SLBC tunnel, where a rescue operation is underway.
Food and water are being taken inside the tunnel for the rescue workers.
- Feb 25, 2025 01:14 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Deputy CM reaches collapse site
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, along with irrigation Mminister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, roads & buildings minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and tourism minister Jupally Krishna Rao have reached the Srisailam Left Bank Canal in Nagarkurnool, according to The Hindu.
- Feb 25, 2025 12:43 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Nagarkurnool SP says teams trying to clear path for locomotive
"As of now, the rescue teams are trying to clear the path for the locomotive to reach the spot of the mishap. There are challenges in operating heavy machines to clear the mud at the spot, although a bulldozer has been pressed into service there. Dewatering is going on continuously. They are removing whatever debris they can. Removing parts of the twisted and mangled tunnel boring machine is proving to be a challenging task,” Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police, Vaibhav Gaikwad, told The Indian Express.
- Feb 25, 2025 12:09 pm IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: MARCOS commandos at collapse site
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: The elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) of the Indian Navy have joined the relief operations for bringing out the eight men trapped inside the tunnel.
- Feb 25, 2025 11:42 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Rat-miners from Uttarakhand mission also involved in rescue operation
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: A team of rat-miners, which played a crucial role in the successful rescue of workers from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in 2023, have also joined the rescue effort in Telangana.
- Feb 25, 2025 10:54 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Sniffer dogs assisting in resuce efforts
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Sniffer dogs were also brought in to locate those inside the tunnel. However, due to the presence of water, the dogs were unable to move forward.
- Feb 25, 2025 10:22 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Deputy CM likely to visit site today
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy are expected at the accident spot today to oversee the rescue operations and make some crucial decisions.
- Feb 25, 2025 10:00 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: No communication with workers, says Nagarkurnool DC
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: “As of now, we are not able to communicate with them. 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,” says Nagarkurnool district collector B Santhosh.
- Feb 25, 2025 09:40 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Experts from GSI, NGRI roped in to assess situation
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: The Telangana government has roped in experts from Geological Survey of India and National Geographical Research Institute besides an Australian part of L&T who has vast experience in tunnels, to suggest the way forward regarding the rescue of eight persons who remain trapped for the fourth day in Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel.
- Feb 25, 2025 09:08 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Latest visuals from inside tunnel
- Feb 25, 2025 08:50 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Minister ‘prays’ for safety of men stuck inside tunnel
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: K Venkat Reddy, Telangana's minister of roads, has expressed hope and prayed for a successful rescue of of the eight people who are stuck inside the collapsed SLBC tunnel.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. I pray to god that these eight people are alive. Our motto is to rescue the people. I pray to god Srisaila Mallanna to keep them safe,” he said.
- Feb 25, 2025 08:24 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: 72 hours on, trapped workers yet to be rescued
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Around 72 hours have passed since the workers got trapped inside the tunnel, and rescue teams are no closer to pulling them out. The teams have had to navigate through thick muck, tangled iron rods, and cement blocks as they attempt to reach the accident spot inside the tunnel.
- Feb 25, 2025 07:55 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: How trapped workers' colleagues escaped
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Nirmal Sahu, one of the workers, said when they went inside the tunnel on February 22 morning, the gush of water increased substantially and loose soil also started falling off. Those who sensed the danger ran to safety but eight persons could not come out, Sahu, who hails from Jharkhand, said.
Few workers suffered minor injuries while running out of the tunnel, said another worker Obi Sahu who is related to Sandeep Sahu, one of the trapped labourers.
- Feb 25, 2025 07:20 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: BRS leader KTR slams CM Revanth Reddy
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: BRS working president KT Rama Rama slammed CM Revanth Reddy, saying in a social media post that Reddy, who is actively participating in MLC poll campaign, has no time to visit the accident spot.
- Feb 25, 2025 07:02 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Family member of trapped Jharkhand men leave for accident site
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: The office of Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren has announced that from the families of the four Jharkhand men, one person from each family is being sent to the accident site in Telangana.
"Under the leadership of Gumla district administration, one member each from four families and a police officer left for Telangana from Birsa Munda Airport," the Chief Minister’s Office said in a post on X.
The family members were sent to Telangana upon the directives of chief minister Hemant Soren, according to an official statement.
- Feb 25, 2025 06:41 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Over 500 personnel engaged in rescue work
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: A team, comprising 584 skilled personnel from agencies such as the Army, Navy, Singareni Collieries, and others, have conducted tunnel inspections seven times, official sources said adding gas cutters to cut the metal rod are
"continuously working." - Feb 25, 2025 06:26 am IST
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: ‘Very remote’ chances of workers' survival, says minister
Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: According to Telangana minister Jupally Krishna Rao, there are “very, very, very, very remote” chances that the trapped individuals will survive, as the accident site is filled with muck and debris, making it a “daunting” task for the rescue teams.