A race against time is underway in Telangana’s
Nagarkurnool district, where eight workers remain trapped inside the
collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel. The accident, which
happened early Saturday morning, has left families in distress and
rescue teams working around the clock to reach those stranded underground.
The tunnel, which was under construction, collapsed
near Domalapenta at the 14-kilometer mark. The workers were
caught off guard, and while some managed to escape, these eight men were left
behind. Since then, there has been no sign of life from inside, making
the rescue mission all the more urgent.
A Chaotic Rescue Effort Amid Tough Conditions
Rescuers from NDRF (National Disaster Response Force),
SDRF (State Disaster Response Force), and the Indian Army are working
together to clear debris and drain out water that has flooded parts of the
tunnel. The passage leading to the trapped workers is blocked by thick
layers of mud and rubble, making it nearly impossible for rescue teams to
reach them quickly.
J Krishna Rao, Telangana’s Minister for Roads and
Buildings, entered the tunnel himself to assess the situation. His words
painted a grim picture. “There’s too much debris, and the mud has made it
impossible to walk inside. Rescuers are using rubber tubes and wooden planks to
move forward, but progress is painfully slow,” he told reporters.
Teams have managed to advance about 13.5 kilometers
inside the tunnel using trains and conveyor belts. However, the last 200
meters remain completely blocked, and rescuers have been unable to
confirm whether the trapped workers are alive. They have shouted their
names, hoping for a response, but there has been only silence.
Who Are the Workers Trapped Inside?
The workers stuck inside come from different parts of India,
with four of them from Jharkhand. The names of those trapped are:
- Manoj
Kumar and Sri Niwas (Uttar Pradesh)
- Sunny
Singh (Jammu & Kashmir)
- Gurpreet
Singh (Punjab)
- Sandeep
Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu (Jharkhand)
Among them, two are engineers, two are machine operators,
and four are laborers. Their families, devastated by the news, are
anxiously waiting for updates, praying for their safe return.
A Nation Watches, Families Wait in Agony
For the families of the trapped workers, each passing
hour feels like an eternity. Many have traveled from their home states to
Telangana, desperately seeking information. Some have camped outside the
rescue site, hoping for a miracle, while others are glued to news reports,
clinging to hope that their loved ones will be pulled out alive.
In Jharkhand, Health Minister Irfan Ansari assured
that Chief Minister Hemant Soren has spoken with Telangana’s CM, Revanth
Reddy, to monitor the situation. "We are in constant contact with
officials there. The rescue operation is going on, and we are praying for the
workers’ safety," he said.
The Big Question: How Did This Happen?
The collapse happened just four days after construction
work had resumed following a long pause. This raises serious questions
about safety measures at the site. How could such a disaster occur so soon
after work restarted? Were proper inspections carried out before resuming
construction?
Experts believe that the tunnel may have weakened over
time, but a proper investigation will be needed to find out the real
cause. For now, the focus remains on saving lives.
What Happens Next?
Rescue teams are trying to pump out water from the
tunnel before they can start digging through the debris. Officials
believe this is the only way to safely reach the workers. However, time is
running out, and every second counts.
The entire country is watching with bated breath,
hoping for good news. The next few hours will be critical in determining the
fate of the trapped men. For now, all we can do is hope that this
desperate battle ends in relief, not tragedy.