- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The flow of slit and water into the collapsed tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal project continues at a very high speed and no contact has been established with trapped workers
By: India Weekly
TOP experts from the Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, GSI and other agencies made relentless efforts on Tuesday (25) to find a breakthrough in the collapsed SLBC tunnel rescue work amidst threat to the lives of rescuers’ with the continuous flow of silt and water.
Addressing media persons, the state irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy 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.
He opined that the collapse might have taken place due to a slight tectonic shift and as some geological fault lines have given way.
It is the fourth day since eight people have been trapped in the partially collapsed tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project.
“There is one problem. The flow of slit and water into the tunnel at a very high speed continues. So there was one opinion expressed by some experts that the people going into the rescue, even their lives could be endangered. So, we are a responsible government, we are taking the best expert opinion, and we will take a final call on that (on how to go about it),” he said.
The irrigation minister noted that experts from 11 agencies such as Indian Army, the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS) of Navy, NDRF, SDRF, GSI, Rat Miners and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd are working round the clock to save the eight lives.
To explore alternative approaches, Reddy said experts are assessing the feasibility of drilling from the top and side of the tunnel while ensuring all necessary safety precautions.
“We are constantly evaluating every possible method to reach the trapped workers while prioritising their safety,” he said.
Reddy said he held discussions with Border Security Force General Harpal Singh over the phone to brief him on the SLBC incident and seek his expertise.
The General acknowledged the complexity of the situation and assured his full support in providing technical expertise and assistance, he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy further said a unified command control has been set up which is constantly being monitored by Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar.
“People are relentlessly working in the tunnel. We are getting videos and pictures. They are being assessed by the experts. We will take a combined collective decision,” he replied when asked what the current situation was.
There was no contact with the trapped persons though oxygen is being pumped into the tunnel continuously.
Reddy said the state government is dedicated to saving the lives of the trapped persons and has been using the best possible talent in India and anywhere in the world.
Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao also visited the accident site.
Nagarkurnool District Collector B Santhosh said before taking any step forward, stability of the tunnel has been taken into consideration even as dewatering is going on.
“As of now we are not able to communicate with them (trapped workers). We are taking the advice of the Geological survey of India and some others,” the collector told PTI.
He said the teams were not able to go into the last 50 meters where the eight persons were trapped, due to accumulation of muck and debris.
The collector further said the teams were able to go up to the tunnel boring machine (TBM). But, after the TBM, at a stretch of 40-50 meters, there was a 4-5 metre high sludge accumulation which was impeding further movement.
Political slugfest
The political slugfest over the accident continued as BRS Working President K T Rama Rao sought a judicial probe into the incident, while Congress Lok Sabha member Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy dismissed the demand, stating that this is not the time for politics and that the focus should be on rescuing those trapped inside the tunnel.
Reacting to BRS’ criticism that chief minister A Revanth Reddy, who has visited Delhi 36 times, does not have the time to visit those trapped in the SLBC tunnel even after 72 hours, Uttam Reddy termed it as “disgraceful politics”.
“Anybody who is criticising, please remember, there cannot be more disgraceful politics. It is shameful that somebody talks about it,” he said.
Recalling that eight people died during a fire accident at SLB power plant and seven were killed at Kaleshwaram Project when BRS was in power, the minister said they never criticised the then government. (PTI)
