Synopsis
On February 22, a tunnel collapse in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana has left seven workers trapped. The incident occurred at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal construction site, prompting immediate rescue efforts and official responses. The Chief Minister and other officials are taking steps to address the situation.Key Takeaways
- Seven workers trapped in tunnel collapse.
- Incident occurred at Srisailam Left Bank Canal.
- Emergency services are on-site for rescue.
- Chief Minister expressed concern and directed relief efforts.
- Calls for investigation into government negligence.
Hyderabad, Feb 22 (NationPress) Seven workers are believed to be trapped after a section of an under-construction tunnel, part of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), fell in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district on Saturday.
At least 50 workers were present when a section of the tunnel collapsed near the Srisailam dam close to Domalapenta.
Officials reported: "The roof of the left-side tunnel collapsed by three metres. The incident took place at the 14th km mark."
While 43 workers managed to exit the tunnel, the remaining seven are feared trapped. Power supply to the tunnel has been interrupted.
Emergency responders, including police, fire services, and Irrigation Department officials, swiftly arrived at the scene to commence rescue efforts.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy arrived at the location to oversee the rescue operations.
The trapped workers consist of three from Jharkhand, two from Uttar Pradesh, and one each from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his dismay regarding the incident. He alerted officials promptly after being informed about the tunnel collapse, which resulted in injuries to many, as stated by the Chief Minister's Office.
He instructed the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Fire Services division, HYDRAA, and Irrigation officials to proceed to the site and implement immediate relief actions.
The state government had recently recommenced construction work on the tunnel to finalize the project. The construction company began operations four days prior, and on Saturday morning, 50 workers entered the tunnel.
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy expressed sorrow over the situation. He communicated with officials and ordered them to initiate a rescue operation to safely retrieve the trapped workers.
Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao blamed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for the occurrence.
He stated that the SLBC tunnel collapse transpired a few months after the wall of the Sunkishala project collapsed. Rama Rao indicated that both incidents resulted from government negligence and called for a comprehensive investigation into the recent event.
