Hyderabad- Rescue teams are in a race against time to save eight workers trapped for over 48 hours inside a collapsed tunnel in Telangana. A state minister has expressed concerns over their survival as accumulated muck and water continue to obstruct rescue efforts.
The tunnel, part of a 44-km-long structure behind the Srisailam dam in Nagarkurnool, collapsed on Saturday morning while workers were repairing a leak. While most managed to escape, eight remain trapped and have been uncontactable since the incident.
State Minister Krishna Rao, overseeing the rescue operation, confirmed that four of the trapped individuals are labourers and the rest are employees of the construction company. The operation has drawn in multiple agencies, including the Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), state rescue teams, and Navy commandos. Additionally, six experts from the Silkyara tunnel rescue mission in Uttarakhand have been deployed to assist in the operation.
The collapse occurred approximately 13 km from the tunnel’s entrance, with rescuers now within 100 meters of the trapped workers. However, efforts are being hampered by unstable debris and high water levels.
“The pileup of muck is so high that it is impossible to walk inside. Rescuers are using rubber tubes and wooden planks to navigate. The chances of survival appear bleak, but we are doing everything possible,” Minister Rao stated.
Authorities have flagged the urgent need for more equipment, as reports indicate severe cracks in the tunnel walls, with water still seeping in. Additionally, sounds of shifting boulders suggest that the structure remains unstable.
The situation is being closely monitored at both central and state levels. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has spoken to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy about the operation, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured full support for the rescue efforts.
The Chief Minister’s Office has confirmed that Reddy is in constant touch with officials, instructing them to clear the water, provide oxygen, and explore alternative rescue routes. Meanwhile, teams on the ground continue to work relentlessly, battling time and challenging conditions to reach the trapped workers.
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