Hyderabad: Rescue teams in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district are re-strategising as they work to free eight workers trapped in an under-construction tunnel that collapsed three days ago. The teams are focusing on the last stretch of 40-50 meters, navigating numerous challenges to reach the workers.

Experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), National Geographical Research Institute (NGRI), and the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) have joined the operation to assess the situation and guide the next steps. The stability of the tunnel is a key concern, and the rescue teams, including members from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Larsen and Toubro (L&T), and other agencies, are moving cautiously.

While dewatering efforts continue, the teams are awaiting advice from the experts. A conveyor belt, used to remove debris from the tunnel, is currently non-functional, and efforts are underway to repair it. Despite deploying advanced equipment like endoscopic and robotic cameras, the results have been disappointing, with the robotic camera failing to work.

The collapse occurred on February 22 when a section of the tunnel’s roof gave way. The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) broke into two, with its tail unit found just 50 meters from the tunnel’s end. The workers were likely in danger as water seepage increased and the roof collapsed. Rescue efforts have been further complicated by sediment and debris filling the last 50 meters of the tunnel, obstructing movement for over 24 hours.

The tunnel’s map indicates that up to 12 km is accessible, though water levels have risen in some sections. While the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed a sniffer dog, it could not be used due to the slushy conditions.

A team of expert rat miners, known for a successful rescue operation in Uttarakhand in 2023, has arrived, but their expertise has not yet been applied due to the differences in tunnel conditions. In the Uttarakhand case, the tunnel was rocky, and hand tools were used, while the Telangana tunnel is filled with water and mud.

A total of 50 workers were on site when the collapse occurred, and while 42 managed to escape, eight remain trapped. Among those trapped are two engineers and two machine operators, with workers from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir among the victims.

Authorities are continuing their efforts to free the trapped workers, with several ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, reviewing the ongoing operations.