In a distressing incident in Telangana, eight workers remain unaccounted for following a tunnel collapse that came after heavy rains caused a rush of silt and water.
Tragic Tunnel Collapse in Telangana Leaves Eight Workers Missing
Tragic Tunnel Collapse in Telangana Leaves Eight Workers Missing
Rescue efforts ongoing as collapsed tunnel raises concerns for trapped workers' survival.
Rescue teams are in a race against time after eight construction workers became trapped in a tunnel that unexpectedly collapsed in the Indian state of Telangana. With heavy rains recently inundating the area, a sudden influx of silt and water cascaded into the tunnel where the workers were laboring on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal project. This project, which targets the completion of one of the longest irrigation tunnels globally, has suffered numerous delays since its inception in 2005.
The collapse occurred approximately nine miles within the tunnel on Saturday morning, trapping eight workers behind a tunnel-boring machine that obstructed their escape route. Reports indicate that some of their colleagues managed to evade the disaster, but communication has been severed with the trapped group since the incident. Manoj Gaur, chairman of Jaiprakash Associates, shared the chaotic scene, describing how water flooded in rapidly, causing a substantial portion of the tunnel's ceiling to cave in, filling the space with water, mud, and stones.
Rescue operations have mobilized nine agencies, including the Indian Army and elite Marine Commandos, who have extensive experience, including a notable operation in a similar scenario where they rescued 41 workers trapped for 17 days in Uttarakhand in 2023. As the teams struggle through severe debris and silt buildup – some reaching heights of six to seven feet – state officials are cautiously optimistic yet anxious about the trapped workers' fate.
Jupally Krishna Rao, Telangana's state minister overseeing the rescue initiatives, remains realistic amid the creeping despair. "I can't predict the chances of survival, but the chances are not very good,” he told local media. Yet, he affirmed a commitment to exhaust every possible effort for the trapped workers. As rescuers continue to brave the challenges posed by the collapsed structure, each passing moment heightens the urgency and gravity of the situation.
The collapse occurred approximately nine miles within the tunnel on Saturday morning, trapping eight workers behind a tunnel-boring machine that obstructed their escape route. Reports indicate that some of their colleagues managed to evade the disaster, but communication has been severed with the trapped group since the incident. Manoj Gaur, chairman of Jaiprakash Associates, shared the chaotic scene, describing how water flooded in rapidly, causing a substantial portion of the tunnel's ceiling to cave in, filling the space with water, mud, and stones.
Rescue operations have mobilized nine agencies, including the Indian Army and elite Marine Commandos, who have extensive experience, including a notable operation in a similar scenario where they rescued 41 workers trapped for 17 days in Uttarakhand in 2023. As the teams struggle through severe debris and silt buildup – some reaching heights of six to seven feet – state officials are cautiously optimistic yet anxious about the trapped workers' fate.
Jupally Krishna Rao, Telangana's state minister overseeing the rescue initiatives, remains realistic amid the creeping despair. "I can't predict the chances of survival, but the chances are not very good,” he told local media. Yet, he affirmed a commitment to exhaust every possible effort for the trapped workers. As rescuers continue to brave the challenges posed by the collapsed structure, each passing moment heightens the urgency and gravity of the situation.
