Telangana tunnel collapse: Rat-miners from Uttarakhand mission arrive to join rescue ops

A team of 584 skilled personnel from the Army, Navy, Singareni Collieries and other agencies along with central and state disaster response teams, have conducted tunnel inspections seven times, official sources said adding gas cutters to cut the metal rod are continuously working.

Official sources, however, said despite relentless efforts by the Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, and other agencies, no breakthrough has been achieved so far in the rescue operations, as the teams had to navigate through thick muck, tangled iron rods, and cement blocks to reach the accident spot in the tunnel.

The family members of four workers from Jharkhand, who have been trapped in a collapsed section of a tunnel in Telangana, left for the southern state on Monday, officials said.

"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.

Visuals from the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel where a rescue operation is underway to rescue the workers trapped inside the tunnel after a portion of the tunnel collapsed on Saturday.

Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: A team of rat miners arrived in Nagarkurnool on Monday to assist in the ongoing rescue operation at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) collapse, where eight workers are reportedly trapped.

These miners were also involved in the successful rescue operation following the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand on October 31 last year.

One of the miners highlighted the challenges ahead, noting that water inside the tunnel and the distance to the trapped workers would make the operation difficult. However, he expressed confidence in achieving success.

Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana minister for roads and buildings, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, on Monday expressed hope for the safe rescue of eight individuals trapped in a partially collapsed tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal project.

Visiting the site, the minister said that the trapped workers had travelled from states like Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh to contribute to the project and support Telangana’s farmers.

“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 told PTI.

Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: A rat miner who was involved in the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation told ANI, “We have come from Delhi... we will enter along with the NDRF and SDRF teams. We can only assess the situation once we are inside... our 12-member team rescued the labourers during the Uttarakhand incident on Diwali... we were part of the 26-hour-long operation. However, the situation here is different... the presence of water is making it more challenging... it might take some time, but we are hopeful of success.”

Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: The rat miners who played a key role in the successful rescue during the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse on October 31 have arrived in Nagarkurnool to assist in the ongoing Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) rescue operation.

Firoz Qureshi, one of the rat miners, shared details about their arrival and mission: "I have come from Delhi, our whole team has come from Delhi, Collector has called us here. 6 of us have come here and 6 more will be coming, we are a team of 12 people. In Uttarakhand, we had rescued 41 labourers...till now, we have not received much information. As of now, we have been told that we need to go along with NDRF and SDRF teams. It will be difficult to say something until we see the situation there," he told reporters.

Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said on Monday that the chances of survival for the eight workers trapped in the SLBC tunnel after its partial collapse two days ago are "very remote," though rescue efforts continue.

He added that a team of rat miners, who previously rescued trapped construction workers from the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has now joined the ongoing operations to reach the trapped men.

The minister noted that the rescue process could take at least three to four days, as the site is filled with muck and debris, making it extremely challenging 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 PTI.

"When we shouted their names also, there was no response...so, there is no chance at all," he added.

Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: Former NDMA Vice Chairman and BJP leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy on Monday slammed the state government over the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) collapse, where eight workers are feared trapped.

Reddy expressed concern over the recurring nature of such incidents, accusing the state government of failing to take adequate precautions. He stressed the need for stronger safety measures and a comprehensive disaster management plan to prevent future tragedies.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “It is really disappointing and sad that this is not the first time that such floods have happened, SLBC tunnel has collapsed...It is definitely time for introspection.”

He further questioned the government's preparedness, stating, "I think the state government has not paid attention to what should be done in such situations. Two such incidents have happened. What is the lesson? Why were safety measures not taken? ...Let us pray and hope that we will be able to rescue the trapped people...The State Disaster Management Authority should sit down and prepare a management plan, disaster management plan for such situations..."

Rescue operations have been underway since Sunday morning at the SLBC tunnel collapse site.

Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: As the rescue operation continued for the eight personnel trapped in the SLBC project tunnel in Telangana, surviving workers expressed hope for their colleagues' safe return and recounted the tragic incident.

One of the workers, Nirmal Sahu, recalled that on the morning of February 22, as they entered the tunnel, the water flow increased significantly, and loose soil began to fall.

"Those who sensed the danger ran to safety, but eight persons could not come out," said Sahu, who hails from Jharkhand, speaking to PTI.

"We expect the government to bring our colleagues out safely. We hope to see them alive," he added.

Another worker, Obi Sahu, who is related to the trapped labourer Sandeep Sahu, mentioned that a few workers suffered minor injuries while escaping from the tunnel.

According to an official, the last 200 meters of the collapsed section are entirely blocked by debris, making it difficult to confirm the condition or exact location of the trapped workers.

As the operation to rescue the eight personnel trapped inside the tunnel of SLBC project in Telangana was in progress, the workers who survived the mishap hoped for the safe return of their colleagues and recalled the tragedy that unfolded before their eyes.

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, told PTI videos.

"We expect the government to bring our colleagues out safely. We hope to see them alive," he 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.

Endoscopic and robotic cameras have been brought to the tunnel for the rescue operation. The NDRF Dog squad has also been deployed to assist in the operation.

“We hope that today we will get some sort of result definitely. We are actually planning to analyse the situation inside,” says MLA Vamshi Krishna.

Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy is getting ‘minute-to-minute’ updates, according to MLA Vamshi Krishna.

“Dewatering is being done. Indian Army, along with NDRF and SDRF are going inside with additional equipment. Our major focus will be on the rescue of the workers stuck inside. Yesterday, they could not reach the last 40 meters and now necessary measures are being taken,” says Nagarurnool district collector B Santhosh.

A team of rat miners, who had rescued the construction workers trapped in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has joined the rescue teams to extricate the men from SLBC tunnel.

"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", says Telangana minister Jupally Krishna Rao.

As per a Telangana Today report, rescue teams have spotted the hand of one of the workers trapped in the mud.

“It appeared like a cloud burst!” was the first reaction of Deepak Jain, who was overseeing the tunnel boring work at a tunnel project site in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana when a portion of its roof caved in on Saturday, trapping eight workers, including two engineers. Read more

According to an SDRF official, there's ‘no chance’ to go to the spot inside the tunnel as it has completely collapsed and mud is reaching up to the knees.

NDRF Deputy Commandant Sukhendu Datta said the force had covered around 13.5 kilometres inside the tunnel, primarily using locomotives and conveyor belts.

“Yesterday around 10 pm, we went inside to check what the situation was like. The locomotives were used to enter the tunnel. From the gate of the tunnel, we covered a total of around 13.5 km. We covered 11 km by train and then the rest of 2 km by conveyor belt and by walking,” he stated.

Latest visuals of the rescue operations being carried out inside the SLBC tunnel, a portion of which collapsed near Domalpenta on February 22.

On Sunday, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, spoke to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy over the ongoing rescue operations at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel collapse site.

The Congress leader appreciated the steps taken and the constant vigil and monitoring and asked the government to leave no stone unturned to try and save the trapped workers, an official release said.