Telangana: Rescuers reach tunnel collapse spot; no sign of trapped workers yet

A team of experts engaged in rescuing the eight persons trapped for the past five days in the partially collapsed SLBC tunnel in Nagarkurnool were able to reach the end of the tunnel and return, a senior police official told news agency PTI on Wednesday (February 26).

Rescue teams had so far been able reach only up to 50 metres before the end of the tunnel due to muck and debris. But a 20-member team could reach the last points of the tunnel on Tuesday, Nagarkurnool SP Vaibhav Gaikwad told PTI.

Also read: Telangana tunnel collapse: Silt, water flow hinders ops, poses threat to rescuers

Lot of debris

“The 20-member team comprising NDRF, SDRF and Rat Miners were able to reach the last points (of the tunnel). But there was a lot of debris. They are working out how to go about,” Gaikwad said.

“One day back, they were able to reach up to 40 metres (before the end of the tunnel). Yesterday they reached (crossed) that 40 meters also,” the official added.

Gaikwad further said the team searched at the location but could not find anything on Tuesday night.

Sludge solidifies

As sludge started solidifying inside the tunnel, rescuers are planning to use sniffer dogs to locate the trapped workers, District Collector B Santhosh told PTI on Wednesday.

Santhosh said the team that went up to the accident spot used a thermal fishing boat.

“Initially, there was a hurdle of 40 metres (from the accident spot). Sludge was there. But it has now solidified to the maximum extent. So, the team could go up to the accident spot… We have a sniffer dog. With its help, we will try to locate (the trapped),” the official told PTI.

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

No response

He added that the priority is to locate the individuals.

The collector said the officials are expecting the conveyor belt to function today and, for further excavation, some space has to be created at the Tunnel Boring Machine.

According to him, the team which reached the exact accident site last night tried to communicate with the trapped persons but there was no response.

GSI yet to report on soil strength

Santhosh said the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) is expected to give its point of view on Wednesday on the stabilisation of soil and other issues, based on which the action plan would be drafted.

Gaikwad, replying to a query, said the Geological Survey of India team that collected samples is yet to submit its reports on soil strength and others.

Top experts from the Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, GSI and other agencies who are making relentless efforts to find a breakthrough in the collapsed SLBC tunnel rescue work amid threat to the lives of rescuers, with the continuous flow of silt and water, were set to continue their operations on Wednesday.

Also read: Telangana tunnel collapse: No breakthrough yet, chance of workers’ survival ‘remote’

Most complex op

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy are holding discussions with the rescue officials on the plan of action.

Addressing media persons, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday 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 was no contact with the trapped persons though oxygen is being pumped into the tunnel continuously, the minister had said.

Eight personnel working on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project were trapped after a portion of the tunnel collapsed on February 22.

(With agency inputs)