Photo: PTI
Hyderabad: As many as eight workers were trapped in a serious accident on Saturday when the roof of the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapsed around 14 kilometres from Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district around 8.30 a.m.
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who arrived in Domalapenta in a helicopter about noon, said the government has asked the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indian Army to assist with rescue efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on the phone this evening to enquire about the disaster. He informed the chief minister that NDRF forces would be dispatched immediately to conduct rescue efforts and pledged the state government of the Centre's complete cooperation.
A 96-member NDRF team and members of the Indian Army's Engineer Task Force (ETF) arrived in Domalapenta during the night. However, as of 9 p.m., they had not arrived at the accident site, and rescue efforts were yet to begin, according to government sources, TNIE reported.
When questioned if people trapped inside the tunnel were alive, the minister said: "So far there is no information about this. But we are going ahead with the hope that they are alive. There is no problem with ventilation inside the tunnel.”
Around 8 a.m. on Saturday, nearly 60 workmen entered the tunnel being built through the Nallamala forests from Domalapenta (near Srisailam backwaters) to Nakkalagandi reservoir. According to government authorities, they were working on construction around 14 kilometres inside the tunnel when the roof collapsed owing to a sudden surge of water.
Speaking to reporters at Domalapenta in the evening, Uttam stated that the workers had started utilising the Tunnel Boring Machine as they do daily. “When they began, there was not much disturbance. After some time, there was an influx of water due to a geological disturbance.”
Two workers from Robbins India, which manages the tunnel boring machine operations, as well as a project engineer, field engineer, and four labourers from Jaiprakash Associates Company, were trapped. They are from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
At first, the tunnel collapsed up to three meters in length. Later, officials stated that the collapse's scope might have expanded. Rescue efforts would start once the geological disturbance is settled, according to Uttam. “As this incident took place 14 kilometres inside the tunnel, there will be some challenges. We are getting the best tunnel experts in the country to oversee the rescue efforts,” he added.
He added that the administration had met with professionals who rescued workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed dismay upon learning of the tunnel's roof collapse. He directed the district collector, SP, Fire Services department, HYDRAA, and irrigation officials to attend to the scene and implement relief measures.
On the CM's orders, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Irrigation Department Advisor Adityanath Das, and officials flew to Domalapenta in a special helicopter. Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao also visited the site.
A team from Singareni Collieries has also been sent for rescue operations. Singareni's CMD, N Balram, stated that they have the essential experience to handle critical scenarios such as roof collapse.
“We have necessary equipment imported from Australia, USA and Poland and the machinery and rock cutters are so advanced that they can cut huge rocks and boulders within minutes,” he said.
The chief minister directed officials to hasten rescue operations and save the trapped workers. He directed officials to provide medical treatment to those harmed in the tragedy and assured the families that the government would provide full support.
After returning to Hyderabad, Uttam briefed the chief minister on the current condition of the tunnel. Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar spoke with key NDRF personnel by phone.
Initiated in 2007
The Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Project, also called the Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project, was started in 2007 by the united Andhra Pradesh government. Using the backwaters of the Srisailam Project, the goal was to supply drinking water and irrigation to the former Nalgonda district at a projected cost of Rs 1,925 crore.
The initial deadline was December 2010, but it was repeatedly extended by succeeding governments, and the anticipated cost has already risen to almost Rs 4,700 crore.
Officials reported that around 34 kilometres of the 42-kilometre tunnel had been finished. For the past few years, however, construction has stalled. After the Congress government took office, it decided to continue the work and finish it in two years. Work restarted just four days ago.