Rescue Efforts Continue for Eight Workers Trapped in Telangana Tunnel Collapse

Nagarkurnool- Rescue operations entered their fourth day on Wednesday as teams continue struggling to reach eight individuals trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana. The final 40-meter stretch, filled with mud and debris, remains the primary obstacle for rescuers.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Navy, and other agencies have been unable to advance due to a 7-9 meter high mud mound, with continuous water seepage making the operation increasingly hazardous for rescue personnel. Officials report that reaching the front portion of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), where the trapped workers are believed to be located, remains impossible until the accumulated mud and debris are cleared.

Despite bringing in experts from across India and deploying advanced equipment, rescuers have made little progress in what officials describe as potentially the most challenging tunnel rescue operation ever conducted in India. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy held a meeting with officials to assess the situation and strategize next steps.

The accident occurred 14 kilometers inside the tunnel on February 22. While rescue teams have reached the 13.5-kilometer mark, they have been unable to advance further for two days due to the hazardous conditions. Even divers from the Navy's elite Marcos special forces unit couldn't navigate through the thick slush. Rescue workers report that soil continues falling from fresh cavities at the collapse site, compounding the existing mud accumulation.

With more than 100 hours elapsed since the accident, officials acknowledge that survival chances for the trapped men—two engineers, two technical staff, and four workers—have diminished significantly. The Border Road Organisation joined the multi-agency rescue effort on Wednesday, working alongside teams from the Army, Navy, SDRF, National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation, Singareni Collieries Company Limited, L&T, and HYDRAA.

Authorities have also enlisted experts from the Geological Survey of India, National Geographical Research Institute, and National Remote Sensing Agency to evaluate conditions and recommend rescue strategies. Disaster Management Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar continues overseeing the operation.

The TBM reportedly split in two after the tunnel roof collapsed. While the tail unit was located 50 meters before the tunnel's end, the head portion contains a safety container designed for workers to shelter during emergencies. It remains unclear whether the trapped individuals managed to enter this container when the collapse occurred and water began seeping in.

Jaypee Group founder Jaiprakash Gaur visited the site Wednesday, stating that the company is making its best efforts to rescue the trapped workers and plans to resume project work once the rescue operation concludes.