Telangana tunnel collapse: Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka holds meeting with rescue team

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.