Telangana tunnel collapse: As rescue ops enters sixth day, teams begin cutting through tunnel boring machine

Hyderabad: The rescue teams at the SLBC tunnel in Telangana have begun cutting the damaged Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), which has proved to be major obstacle in rescuing the eight men trapped inside.

Plasma cutters have been sent along with the teams into the tunnel, and efforts to repair the conveyor belt for transporting debris have also commenced.

The government has set a deadline of 48 hours to complete the rescue operations.

Plasma cutters, high-grade shutters, and debris removal machinery are being used while international experts are overseeing the strategy for the rescue operations at the SLBC tunnels in Domalapenta of Telangana's Nagarkurnool district where eight persons have been trapped due to partial collapse of the under construction tunnel.

Irrigation minister, Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy who was overseeing the rescue operations on Thursday said that the process of cutting parts of tunnel boring machine and dewatering have been reactivated in order to clear obstructions.

“This is an extremely challenging operation, and the best experts in the field are involved. They are working selflessly, risking their own lives to complete this rescue,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

He added that precautionary restrictions had been imposed at the site to ensure the safety of both workers and rescuers.

A multi-agency rescue operation is in full swing at the SLBC (Srisailam Left Bank Canal) tunnel, with the country’s best experts and advanced equipment deployed to save the trapped workers.

Uttam Kumar Reddy assured that the rescue and relief operations would be completed within two to three days, and the tunnel works would resume in two to three months.

Uttam Kumar Reddy described the incident as one of the most complicated and complex tunnel accidents in Indian history, stating that for the first time, so many national and international agencies have been brought together under a unified command for the rescue mission.

Eleven top agencies specialising in tunnel disasters are leading the operation, working with unmatched coordination and expertise.

The minister said that the rescue teams were working round the clock, using the most advanced technology and equipment to safely extract the trapped workers.

Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly condemned BRS leaders, especially T Harish Rao, for his criticism of the rescue operations.

He blamed the previous BRS regime for the tunnel accident, stating that it neglected the SLBC project for a decade.

He accused them of abandoning the work and failing to complete the project, which, if finished on time, would have provided 30 TMC of water to Telangana, benefiting three to four lakh acres of agricultural land in Nalgonda.

“The BRS leaders left this project incomplete. If they had worked efficiently, this project would have been finished long ago, and Telangana farmers would have had enough water,” he said.

He also slammed Harish Rao, saying his advice is not needed, as professionals with expertise 1,000 times higher than him were handling the situation.

“Does he think he knows more than the top tunnel engineers. Is he trying to insult the Indian Army, Navy commandos, BRO teams and other experts who are risking their lives in this rescue?” he questioned.

The minister dismissed the BRS leaders' visit to the accident site as mere political theatrics. "They came here to stage a drama and left after putting on a show," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out that during the Srisailam Left Bank Power Station blast, where nine workers lost their lives, no BRS leader even visited the site.

He recalled when Revanth Reddy tried to visit the victims, he was arrested and taken to a police station. Similarly, in the Devadula project, where seven workers died, their remains were recovered only after five years.

He questioned why Harish Rao never spoke about these incidents when they happened under the BRS regime, but is now giving lectures on the SLBC tunnel accident.

He reiterated that the rescue operation is being conducted with full dedication, and after the workers are safely rescued, the government will ensure that tunnel works resume in the next two-three months and are completed within the stipulated time.