Hyderabad:
Rescue workers are mentioning the names of trapped workers as they make their way inside the tunnel, one of which fell in Telangana in one part, showing special footage accessed by NDTV. The tunnel in Nagarkarnool collapsed yesterday, trapping at least eight workers who were inside to repair a leakage. Top rescue agencies have been deployed and a tunnel-boring machine is being brought to promote rescue efforts.
The video showed the workers that they are trying to find their way beyond Mangald Infrastructure that blocks the tunnel. Inside the tunnel, the workers inspected pumping stations and common structures to decide the next course of their action.
The rescue team has yet to establish contact with the trapped laborers, while the internal communication system failed yesterday. They are now calling workers out of their name, expecting to get an answer, which will ensure that they are fine.
The 44-cilometer long tunnel is located on an under-construction stretch of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), an irrigation project that provides water to Municipal and Nalgonda districts. According to a brief report, the tunnel collapsed, many workers managed to escape, but eight of them were trapped on the tunnel boring machines. Construction is being done by Jaypee Associated Group.
Disaster response forces are engaged in bringing workers out for safety, but is an important challenge mixed with water spread over 200–300 meters in the tunnel.
The government report states that there is an Earth fracture on the edge of the tunnel wall, from where the water is coming out, and there is a requirement of decavatoring before the rescue operation. It said that shifting boulder’s noise has indicated the roof in the collapsing site which is unstable.
At least four teams of NDRF are on their way, while the state personnel are already engaged in rescue operations. The situation is being monitored at both state and central levels round-the-clock.
Telangana Chief Minister Revantha Reddy held a review meeting yesterday, during which Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar informed him about the current situation in the tunnel. Advisor (Irrigation) of the state Adityanath Das and the advisor of Chief Minister Vam Narnder Reddy were also present in the meeting.
The Chief Minister has sought an update on the injured workers and asked the authorities to expedite the rescue efforts. He also asked them to ensure that the affected families should get all kinds of support from the government.
Mr. Reddy has also asked all departments to be vigilant during rescue operations.
(Tagstotranslet) Telangana Tunnel Fall (T) Tunnel Fall (T) SLBC Tunnel Fall
