Telangana tunnel collapse: Army, NDRF help sought to rescue SLBC tunnel workers

Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy assured that the state government was making every possible effort to safely rescue the eight workers trapped inside the SLBC tunnel at Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district. He emphasized that all available resources, including specialized rescue teams from Singareni and the Indian Army, were being mobilized to handle the crisis.

“This is an unfortunate incident, but we are committed to bringing them out safely. The state government is leaving no stone unturned. The fire and disaster management teams, irrigation officials, and the police department are working together under the supervision of senior officers. Additionally, the Army rescue team is expected to reach the site by tonight, and we have reached out to experts who have handled similar tunnel incidents in Uttarakhand,” Uttam Kumar Reddy told reporters.

Upon receiving information about the accident on Saturday morning, the minister rushed to the site and later held a high-level review meeting at the J P Guest House in Domalapenta. The meeting was attended by Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Telangana Fire and Rescue Director General Narayana Rao, Inspector General Satyanarayana, the Nagarkurnool Collector, and officials from Robin Company, which was involved in the tunnel excavation. The officials assessed the situation and formulated immediate rescue strategies.

According to initial reports, the tunnel collapse occurred due to a sudden inflow of water and soil, covering nearly 8 km of the excavation site. J P Associates and Robin Company, responsible for tunnel boring, stated that the incident took place within 30 minutes of starting work at 8 am. A loud noise was heard before water and soil rushed into the tunnel, causing workers to scramble for safety. Those positioned near the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) managed to escape, while workers in the front section of the tunnel got trapped. The excavation was immediately halted, and supervisors quickly evacuated as many workers as possible.

Authorities confirmed that the ventilation system inside the tunnel remains functional, ensuring an oxygen supply to the trapped workers. Ambulances and medical teams have been placed on high alert, with doctors ready to provide emergency care.

The trapped workers include Manoj Kumar (Project Engineer) from Uttar Pradesh, Srinivas (Field Engineer) from Uttar Pradesh, Sandeep Sahu (Worker) from Jharkhand, Jataks (Worker) from Jharkhand, Santosh Sahu (Worker) from Jharkhand, Anuj Sahu (Worker) from Jharkhand, Sunny Singh (Worker) from Jammu & Kashmir, and Gurpreet Singh (Worker) from Punjab.

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy revealed that the state government, in consultation with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, had decided to involve Army rescue teams along with Singareni teams that specialize in mine rescues. He assured that these teams would employ advanced drilling and excavation techniques to reach the trapped workers as quickly as possible.

Additionally, tunnel rescue teams that had successfully handled similar operations in Uttarakhand have also been contacted. He noted that when a similar tunnel accident occurred in Uttarakhand, those teams rescued workers without casualties, and now they were being brought in for assistance.

The fire department and disaster management teams are working under DG Narayana Rao, with police teams led by IG Satyanarayana providing security. A medical support team has been stationed at the site with ambulances and emergency staff on standby. Irrigation department officials are continuously monitoring the situation and coordinating rescue efforts.

Addressing concerns over safety, Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated that J P Associates and Robin Company have the full support of the Telangana government in managing the crisis. He emphasized that Robin Company is a globally recognized firm in tunnel excavation, and J P Associates has extensive experience in infrastructure projects. The government is ensuring that all necessary technical support and logistics are provided to these companies to expedite the rescue operation.

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy further stated that the government is fully committed to bringing out all eight trapped workers alive. He assured that this is the government’s top priority and that they will not rest until the workers are safe. Officials are working around the clock, and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is closely monitoring the situation. With specialized teams in action and continuous monitoring at the highest levels of the state government, authorities remain hopeful for a successful rescue operation.