Telangana tunnel collapse: No contact possible, Only silence remains... 8 lives trapped in tunnel
In Telangana, eight people have been trapped in a narrow tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) since February 22. During this time, contact with them has been lost, water and silt are filling inside, and every second is crucial for the rescue operation.
Telangana Tunnel Collapse: Eight people have been trapped in a narrow tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) in Telangana since the 22nd of this month. During this time, all communication with them has been lost, water and silt are filling up inside, and every second is crucial for the rescue operation. An expert involved in the rescue efforts has stated that this operation is proving to be even more challenging than the Silkyara tunnel rescue mission. Notably, the Silkyara tunnel rescue mission took place in Uttarakhand, where 41 workers were safely rescued after 17 days of intense efforts.
Mission in Telangana
Experts involved in the Uttarakhand Silkyara tunnel rescue operation are now also part of this mission in Telangana. Senior supervisor Shashi Bhushan Chauhan stated that this time, the challenge is even more difficult than before. The SLBC tunnel is only 33 feet wide, whereas the Silkyara tunnel was 45 feet wide. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is stuck, and mud and water continue to accumulate inside.
Challenges for the Rescue Team
The auger machine used in rescue operations is not feasible here because water and sludge are continuously increasing. We remove the sludge, and it fills up again. Every attempt to move forward feels like being pushed back."
The six-member 'rat-hole miners' team, which rescued workers in Silkyara, is ready once again. Their leader, Vakil Hasan, says, "Our team arrived on Sunday. When the time comes, we will go inside."
