Synopsis
Efforts to rescue eight men trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district are ongoing. Prime Minister Modi has assured Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of support as rescue teams, including SDRF and NDRF, work to save the trapped individuals.Key Takeaways
- Eight men trapped after a tunnel collapse.
- Rescue operations involve SDRF and NDRF.
- Two workers were injured in the incident.
- Chief Minister is overseeing the response.
- Government assures support for victims' families.
Hyderabad, Feb 22 (NationPress) Rescue operations are currently in progress to save eight individuals who have become trapped in an under-construction tunnel following a roof collapse in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district on Saturday.
At least two workers sustained injuries, and the eight trapped individuals were caught when a section of the tunnel, part of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), collapsed near Domalapenta.
There were 50 workers present at the left-side tunnel when the roof caved in by three meters. This incident occurred at the 14th km mark.
While 42 individuals managed to exit the tunnel, the remaining eight, which include two engineers and two machine operators, remain trapped.
Emergency responders, including police, fire services, and officials from the Irrigation Department, quickly arrived at the scene and initiated rescue efforts.
In the evening, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined the ongoing rescue operation.
The trapped individuals hail from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir.
State Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Reddy arrived at the site upon directives from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who was overseeing the rescue efforts.
The Chief Minister expressed his shock over the situation and urged all relevant departments to be proactive in the rescue mission. He also directed officials to provide the best medical care for the injured.
He assured that the government would offer comprehensive support to the victims' families.
The state government had recently recommenced construction on the tunnel to expedite project completion. The construction firm had begun work just four days prior, and on Saturday morning, 50 workers entered the tunnel.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that construction resumed after a survey by the Geological Survey of India. He informed the media that the company engaged for this project has a strong track record in tunnel excavation.
He noted that shortly after work began on Saturday morning, water infiltrated the tunnel and the soil collapsed. “The workers who escaped reported hearing an explosion, possibly indicating a geological disturbance,” he added, noting that those closest to the boring machine were the ones trapped.
“The government is making every effort to rescue the trapped individuals. We are bringing in the finest tunnel experts in the country to supervise the rescue operations,” he stated, acknowledging the difficulties posed by the accident occurring 14 km inside the tunnel.
He also mentioned that Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari had been in communication with officials involved in the rescue after a similar incident recently took place in Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to discuss the incident.
The Prime Minister assured him that an NDRF team would be dispatched immediately for the rescue operations and promised complete support from the Central government.
The Chief Minister updated the Prime Minister on the situation, confirming that rescue efforts were actively underway to save the trapped men.
