Synopsis
The search operation for seven individuals trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel in Telangana's Nagakurnool district has now reached its 23rd day. Rescue teams are utilizing advanced technology and specialized equipment to expedite recovery efforts.Key Takeaways
- Rescue operation ongoing for 23 days.
- Advanced robotic technology deployed for excavation.
- Specialized machinery aiding in debris removal.
- Teams divided area into sections for efficiency.
- One body recovered; seven individuals still missing.
Hyderabad, March 16 (NationPress) The mission to locate the seven individuals still trapped beneath rubble in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana's Nagakurnool district has now reached its 23rd day this Sunday.
Rescue personnel are persistently removing slush, metal, and various debris from the final 50-70 meters of the 14-kilometer tunnel.
At the D1 site, where the Human Remains Detection Dog (HRDD) squad from Kerala and ground probing radar (GPR) have identified some human remains, debris has accumulated up to a height of nine meters.
Workers from Singareni Collieries Company Limited and Rathole miners hailing from Uttarakhand are actively involved in excavation efforts at the suspected locations – D1, D2, and P1. Officials are optimistic about locating the bodies of the missing individuals once the debris at D1 is cleared.
The teams participating in the operation have segmented the area from the loco-end point to the last 50 meters into three sections for enhanced efficiency.
Robotic technology is being employed in search efforts towards the tail-end of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).
Officials report that specialized equipment has been deployed in conjunction with an autonomous hydraulically powered robot to accelerate the rescue operations. This includes a 30 HP capacity liquid ring vacuum pump and a vacuum tank-equipped machine, which will aid in the swift removal of debris and speed up work inside the tunnel.
Rather than manual excavation, an autonomous hydraulically powered robot is being used, which, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is managing the excavation process within the tunnel.
The vacuum tank system is facilitating the removal of debris, including 620 cubic meters of mud per hour, transported out via a conveyor belt.
Members of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) were involved in debris-clearing operations in the 50-70 meter stretch.
Metal components and other heavy materials are being removed from the tunnel with the assistance of loco-trolleys.
Eight individuals were trapped following a section of the tunnel's collapse on February 22.
On March 9, rescue teams recovered one body, identified as TBM operator Gurpreet Singh, a 40-year-old from Punjab employed by Robbins Company, which specializes in tunnel boring machines.
The remaining seven individuals still unaccounted for are Manoj Kumar (UP), Sri Niwas (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), along with Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.
Disaster Management Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar, District Collector Badavath Santosh, and Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad Raghunath are overseeing the rescue efforts, which involve teams from various agencies, including the Army, Singareni Mines Rescue Team, NDRF, SDRF, Rathole Miners, Geological Survey of India, HYDRAA, Anvi Robotics, and South Central Railway.
