Categories
In a somber update on the Telangana tunnel collapse, state minister J Krishna Rao has expressed grave concerns over the survival chances of the eight trapped workers. Speaking on Monday, he revealed that rescue teams shouted the workers’ names but received no response, suggesting a bleak outcome. He described their chances of survival as “very, very, very, very remote.”
The tunnel, still under construction, suffered a major collapse, causing a significant buildup of mud and debris. Rao explained that out of the 9-meter-wide tunnel, nearly 30 feet was affected, with 25 feet filled with mud, making rescue operations extremely challenging.
“To be honest, the chances of their survival are very, very, very, very remote. I went up to the end, just 50 meters short of the collapse site. We took photographs, and the end of the tunnel was visible. However, the mud has piled up to 25 feet, leaving little to no space for survival,” the minister told PTI.
Despite the grim situation, rescue operations are ongoing. A team of rat miners, who successfully rescued trapped construction workers in the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand in 2023, has been deployed to assist in clearing the debris. However, Rao stated that it could take three to four days to reach the workers due to heavy muck and obstructions.
Authorities are pumping oxygen into the tunnel while also attempting to remove water from the site. However, the minister questioned whether oxygen could even reach the trapped workers, given the extent of the collapse.
“Even assuming they are in the lower part of the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), and even if it is intact on top, where is the air? How will oxygen reach them underneath?” he asked.
Officials are also exploring alternative routes to access the accident site, working to clear mounds of soil blocking the tunnel.
The Indian Army, NDRF, and other agencies have been engaged in the rescue operation since Saturday, but no breakthrough has been achieved yet.
The eight trapped workers have been identified as:
- Manoj Kumar, Sri Niwas (Uttar Pradesh)
- Sunny Singh (Jammu and Kashmir)
- Gurpreet Singh (Punjab)
- Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, Anuj Sahu (Jharkhand)
Rescue teams continue their relentless efforts as families and authorities await any signs of life inside the collapsed tunnel.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Localtak staff.
