Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has assured that rescue operations at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse site will now proceed at a faster pace, following the implementation of a structured plan to minimise risks for rescuers.
Speaking on Tuesday, he emphasised that officials had carefully assessed the situation over the past two days and formulated a foolproof strategy to safely extract the trapped workers.
Acknowledging the high risk involved in the operation, the minister stated that special precautions have been put in place to protect the rescue teams while ensuring the swift evacuation of survivors.
"Yesterday, we recognised that those entering the tunnel to conduct the rescue were themselves at significant risk. After thorough assessment, we have now developed a clear plan of action to minimise these dangers. Moving forward, we will accelerate rescue and relief efforts, and we are confident that everything will be completed within two days," he said.
The government's new approach involves multiple entry points to reach the trapped workers.
"Based on field inspections over the last two days, we have decided to proceed with a structured plan. We are not only working on accessing the tunnel from the main exit but also exploring alternative side entry points. With these additional precautions, we are now set to move forward with the rescue mission," Reddy explained.
To bolster efforts, a team of expert miners - who played a crucial role in the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue in Uttarakhand - has been brought in to handle the complex operation. Munna Qureshi, one of the rescue specialists, acknowledged the difficulties but expressed confidence in their ability to complete the mission.
"Our team successfully rescued 41 workers in Uttarkashi, and we are here to conduct another rescue operation. The challenges are significant, but we are determined to overcome them. This is a serious and large-scale mission, and we are committed to rescuing every trapped worker," Qureshi said.
The team consists of 12 specialised "rat miners", trained to navigate tight and hazardous underground spaces to extract trapped individuals safely.
With the government’s renewed strategy, enhanced safety measures, and the expertise of seasoned rescuers, the operation is expected to be completed within the next 48 hours.