Nagarkurnool: Rescue teams working to save eight individuals trapped in the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel have begun cutting sections of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and other obstacles obstructing their path to the trapped workers. Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad stated that repairs on the damaged section of the tunnel’s conveyor belt are expected to be completed soon, which will facilitate the transportation of debris.

“Yes, it's already (gas cutting machines went inside). (Even during) nights they did some cutting. Yes, it has already started last night,” the official told PTI when asked if the gas cutters had begun operation.

Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy confirmed on Wednesday that the TBM, which remains stuck inside the tunnel, will be cut into pieces using gas cutters and removed. Once this process is complete, teams from the Army, Navy, Rat Miners, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will make another serious attempt to rescue the trapped individuals while ensuring their own safety.

When asked whether the trapped workers would be located today, the SP said he could not confirm at this stage.

Panic among workers

According to sources some of the workers engaged in the tunnel work have stated leaving the place out of fear. The official noted that some apprehension among labourers is expected in such situations.

“The company constructed residential camps also for the workers. The initial panic will be there. Maybe some individuals want to go back. But we have no reports of workers leaving en masse,” the official said.

A senior government official stated that the SLBC project employs around 800 people, with 300 being locals and the remaining workers from states such as Jharkhand, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh.

The SLBC tunnel collapse incident

On February 22, a portion of the SLBC tunnel collapsed, trapping eight workers involved in the project. Efforts have been ongoing to rescue them since the incident occurred. Meanwhile, former minister and BRS legislator T Harish Rao is expected to visit the SLBC project site today along with his party leaders to assess the situation.

Jaiprakash Gaur, Founder Chairman of Jaypee Group, the contracting firm handling the SLBC project, commented on the incident, acknowledging the risks involved in such difficult projects.

“Accidents may happen during difficult works,” Gaur stated.

Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, the flagship company of Jaypee Group, was awarded the tunnel boring contract for the SLBC project. Gaur assured that the teams on-site are making every effort to rescue those who remain trapped.

Identity of the trapped workers

Of the eight trapped individuals, two are engineers, two are operators, and four are labourers. The trapped workers have been identified as follows:

Manoj Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Sri Niwas (Uttar Pradesh), Sunny Singh (Jammu & Kashmir), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab), Sandeep Sahu (Jharkhand), Jegta Xess (Jharkhand), Santosh Sahu (Jharkhand), Anuj Sahau (Jharkhand)

Two engineers and four labourers among them are reported to be working for Jaiprakash Associates.

PTI