Telangana tunnel collapse: 4 bodies located, 4 likely under TBM, says minister

The bodies of four of the eight workers who were trapped in the Nagarkurnool SLBC tunnel have been located through radar while the other four seem to be stuck beneath the tunnel boring machine (TBM), Telangana Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao has said.

Krishna Rao, who attended a meeting on Saturday (March 1) with officials involved in the rescue operation along with Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, said there was lot of progress during the past couple of days.

Also read: Telangana tunnel collapse: All eight bodies found; official announcement soon

Bodies may be out by Sunday evening

“In my view, the whereabouts of four persons have been located through radar,” he told reporters at the tunnel. He added that desilting was being carried out manually where four persons had been located and expressed hope that they would be extricated by Sunday evening..

Scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) used Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and detected some “anomalies” inside the tunnel, providing a crucial lead in the operation.

The other four appear to be stuck beneath the TBM, the minister said, adding that it may take some time to get a breakthrough about them. The 450-ft long TBM was being cut, he said. The personnel of about 11 agencies, including Army, NDRF, rat miners, are involved in the operation.

The minister also recalled that he had said on the first day itself that the chances of survival of the eight works were remote.

Also read: Ground report: Telangana tunnel rescuers battle fatigue, darkness

A complex operation

Referring to the criticism of Opposition parties that the operation was getting delayed, Krishna Rao said those involved in the endeavour are experts but the rescue work is complex in view of the conditions, including slush, inside the tunnel.

The rescue personnel should not be put at risk, he said.

The minister also said dewatering, repairing the damaged conveyor belt, and other aspects of rescue work were going simultaneously.

Krishna Rao also said the families of those trapped in the tunnel were waiting as the operation was underway.

700 people on rescue work

The eight workers — including engineers and labourers — have been trapped under the collapsed roof of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel since February 22.

The state government’s Disaster Management department said in a statement on Saturday night that 18 organisations, 54 officials and 703 people are involved in the rescue operation.

The rescue operation involved state-of-the-art technology like Aqua-Eye, Proboscop and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to trace the workers trapped in the tunnel.

Silt removal being done manually 24/7

Under the supervision of experts, work to remove soil, mud and concrete debris from the tunnel and to cut broken equipment with gas cutters was underway, Arvind Kumar, Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management), said.

“It is expected that the rescue operation will be completed soon. Dewatering process is continuing to remove spring water in the tunnel. An excavator machine is working inside the tunnel to remove silt,” it said.

The South Central Railway, headquartered in Hyderabad, has sent the second unit of Ultra Thermic Cutting Machine (UTC). With this, two UTCs were operational and silt removal is being done manually 24/7 in three shifts with 120 people working per shift.

SLBC project

The Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project came into existence as part of the irrigation projects launched in 2004 after YS Rajasekhara Reddy took charge as the chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh State.

Work on the project began in 2007 with an estimated cost of Rs 1,925 crore with the aim of providing irrigation water to three lakh acres.

The construction of a 43.93-km tunnel route is crucial in the project. Jaypee Construction Company has undertaken the work with a TBM without damaging the surrounding environment, the release said.

(With agency inputs)