Synopsis
Seven workers are feared trapped in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district after a section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel collapsed. Emergency services are conducting rescue operations, while officials express concern over the incident's implications.Key Takeaways
- Seven workers are feared trapped after a tunnel collapse.
- The incident occurred in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana.
- 43 workers managed to escape the site.
- Emergency services have initiated rescue operations.
- Political leaders have expressed concern and called for investigations.
Hyderabad, Feb 22 (NationPress) Seven workers are suspected to be trapped after a section of an under-construction tunnel, part of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), collapsed in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana on Saturday.
At the time of the incident, around 50 workers were present at the site when the tunnel collapsed near Domalapenta behind the Srisailam dam.
Officials reported: "The roof of the left-side tunnel gave way for three metres, with the incident occurring at the 14th km point."
While 43 workers managed to escape, the other seven are believed to be trapped. The electricity supply to the tunnel has been interrupted.
Responding to the emergency, police, fire services, and Irrigation Department officials quickly arrived at the scene to initiate rescue operations.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy arrived at the site to oversee the rescue efforts.
The workers believed to be trapped include three from Jharkhand, two from Uttar Pradesh, and one each from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his shock regarding the incident and promptly alerted officials once he was informed about the tunnel collapse that injured several individuals, as stated by the Chief Minister's Office.
He instructed the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Fire Services, HYDRAA, and Irrigation officials to promptly reach the site and implement relief measures.
The state government had recently recommenced construction on the tunnel to expedite the project. The construction company had initiated work four days prior, and on Saturday morning, 50 workers entered the tunnel.
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy conveyed his sorrow over the occurrence, discussing with officials and directing them to commence rescue operations to safely extricate the trapped workers.
In the meantime, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao attributed responsibility for the incident to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
He remarked that the SLBC tunnel collapse occurred mere months after the collapse of the Sunkishala project wall. Rama Rao claimed both incidents resulted from governmental negligence and called for a comprehensive investigation into the recent event.
