Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: 48 hours on, workers yet to be rescued

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.

Telangana tunnel collapse LIVE: According to the Raj Bhavan Press Secretary, governor Jishnu Dev Verma spoke to the District Collector, and was briefed on the ongoing efforts to rescue workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel.

The District Collector provided updates on the rescue operations, informing that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Army, and experts are actively engaged at the site.

According to Telangana minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, the situation at the accident site is ‘critical,’ and water inflow is hampering rescue operations.

“The natural rock formations in the tunnel became loose, which caused sudden water and mud inflow, filling about 12-13 feet of the tunnel. This is a highly challenging situation, and technical experts are working round the clock to resolve the crisis,” he explained.

Telangana BJP leader N Ramchander Rao said, “The SLBC tunnel collapsing is an unfortunate incident, many people are stuck. But however, whatever may be the reasons they will now come out only after detailed inquiries.”

He added, “After the report comes, what are the main reasons, whoever is responsible, then I think the BJP will make a political statement on it, as of now we are with the administration to save the lives of the people.”

With four out of eight trapped workers being from Jharkhand, the state’s health minister Irfan Ansari said he is ‘closely monitoring’ the situation.

“I am constantly in contact with the Secretary there (in Telangana). CM Hemant Soren has spoken to the Telangana CM. As per the information, four to five labourers from Jharkhand are stuck. I am monitoring the situation,” Ansari said.

“Our mission is left for around 200 meters. Dewatering is going on. It is very difficult right now. After dewatering, we will do the cutting,” a tunnel boring machine operator said.

Officiais have told Telangana CM Revanth Reddy that seepage water in the tunnel is a ‘big problem’ to speed up the rescue operations.

“Arrangements have been made to continuously draw out water and supply oxygen in the tunnel. Rescue teams are removing mud mounds in the tunnel and examining alternative routes to reach the accident site,” the officials said.