Hyderabad: Rescue operations have been intensified to save eight workers trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel. Multiple teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Navy, Army, HYDRA, and specialized Rat Hole Miners, are working round the clock to reach the stranded individuals.
Rescue teams have managed to advance up to 13.5 kilometers into the tunnel, but their progress has been hindered by collapsed Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) equipment. Additionally, the air supply system was destroyed beyond the 11.5 km mark, creating further complications. Experts from GSII and NTR are currently assessing the situation, as nearly 10,000 cubic meters of mud has accumulated, reaching a height of 15 feet across a 200-meter stretch. Water is continuously seeping into the tunnel at a rate of 3,600 to 5,000 liters per hour, further complicating the efforts.
A conveyor belt, capable of removing 800 tons of sludge per hour, is under repair and is expected to be operational by tomorrow evening. Despite using makeshift bamboo and thermocol rafts, rescue teams are struggling to navigate through thick mud deposits.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that alternative approaches are being explored to expedite the mission, with another attempt planned by the NDRF and Navy.
