Synopsis
The Indian Army's Engineer Task Force has been deployed in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district to conduct a rescue operation for eight individuals trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel after a roof collapse. Rescue teams are working diligently to clear debris and pump out water to reach the trapped workers.Key Takeaways
- Indian Army has deployed ETF for rescue.
- Eight individuals are trapped in a tunnel.
- Efforts are coordinated with various agencies.
- Rescue teams are using advanced machinery.
- Local officials report multiple injuries.
Hyderabad, Feb 23 (NationPress) The Indian Army has dispatched the Engineer Task Force (ETF) from the Bison Division based in Secunderabad to conduct a rescue mission for eight individuals trapped inside the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel located in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana.
On Saturday, a section of the tunnel's roof, measuring around 3 meters, collapsed near Domalapenta.
A statement from the defense department confirmed that rescue operations are being carried out promptly. The Indian Army is collaborating closely with various stakeholders to accelerate the rescue efforts. The coordination is being managed by the Telangana & Andhra Sub Area HQ.
Army medical teams and engineers, equipped with high-capacity pumping systems, armored hoses, excavators, JCBs, and bulldozers, are diligently working to remove debris and ensure safe evacuation, as per the statement.
A strategy meeting involving the civil administration, the NDRF, the SDRF, the Army, and tunnel construction contractors is currently underway.
Local officials report that around 120 personnel from the Indian Army are engaged in the rescue operation.
The incident resulted in injuries to at least two workers, while eight others remain trapped after a portion of the tunnel being constructed for the SLBC collapsed near Domalapenta.
At the time of the accident, approximately 50 individuals were working in the left-side tunnel, located at the 14th km mark.
While 42 workers successfully exited the tunnel, the remaining eight, including two engineers and two machine operators from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, are still trapped.
Rescue operations are being conducted by teams from the Army, the NDRF, the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), who are working tirelessly to pump out water and clear debris.
The teams are racing against time to reach the 14th-kilometer point where the tunnel roof collapsed.
Currently, they are approximately 100 meters away from the collapse site, but water and silt in the tunnel are obstructing their progress.
NDRF officials have stated that until the water is removed, heavy machinery cannot be deployed to clear debris and reach the location of the trapped workers.
