At least eight workers are feared trapped after a tunnel roof collapsed in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on Saturday. The incident occurred due to the slippage of a concrete segment used to seal seepage at the 14-km inlet of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel, which runs from Srisailam towards Devarakonda.
Rescue operations are currently in progress, with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directing authorities to reach the accident site immediately and expedite necessary measures for the safe evacuation of the trapped workers.
In an official statement, the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that “some people were injured in the incident,” adding that Revanth Reddy has instructed the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and personnel from the fire department and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to undertake relief operations without delay.
Uncertainty Over Number of Trapped Workers
Although there is no official confirmation on the exact number of workers present in the tunnel at the time of the collapse, a police officer said at least six to eight people are feared trapped. “The incident occurred when some workers were inside as part of ongoing work when the roof collapsed approximately 12-13 km inside the tunnel,” the official stated.
Telangana’s Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Irrigation Advisor Aditya Nath Das, IG Sathyanarayana, and DG Fire Services GV Narayan Rao are currently overseeing the relief operations at the site.
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Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed deep concern over the accident, describing it as unfortunate. He assured that rescue efforts are in full swing to safely retrieve the trapped individuals. Rescue teams are already deployed, and additional support from the Indian Army is expected to reach the accident site by tonight.
Furthermore, the rescue team involved in a similar tunnel collapse operation in Uttarakhand is being brought in to aid the ongoing mission. Additionally, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed to assist with the rescue efforts.
Trapped Individuals and Real-Time Monitoring
Sources informed India Today TV that among those trapped inside are the project engineer, site engineer, and six workers. Authorities have been instructed to maintain real-time communication with the Chief Minister and provide continuous updates on the progress of the rescue operations.
As rescue efforts intensify, authorities and concerned citizens are hoping for a swift and safe evacuation of the trapped workers. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
