Telangana tunnel collapse: Why survival chances of 8 trapped workers are ‘very, very remote’

A frantic rescue operation is still underway in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district after a tunnel collapse left eight workers trapped underground.

A portion of the proposed 44-km-long tunnel, located behind the Srisailam dam, caved in on Saturday morning. While most workers managed to escape, eight remain stuck inside, with no contact for over 48 hours.

Rescue teams are working against the clock, deploying heavy machinery and expert crews including Army personnel to remove the debris. However, as time passes, the situation is becoming increasingly grim.

With large amounts of debris and muck blocking the passage and impending rescue operations, officials worry that the chances of survival are diminishing with each passing hour.

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What exactly happened? How are authorities carrying out the rescue efforts? Here’s a closer look at the situation.

What happened?

The accident occurred on Saturday morning when around 50 workers entered the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, which runs from Srisailam to Devarakonda, to carry out repairs on a water leakage.

However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. A sudden surge of water caused loose soil to start falling from the tunnel walls, recalled worker Nirmal Sahu. Moments later, a section of the tunnel’s roof collapsed 13.5 km inside.

Those who realised the danger ran for their lives. It was only after they made it out safely that they discovered eight of their colleagues had not managed to escape.

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“We expect the government to bring our colleagues out safely. We hope to see them alive,” Sahu, who hails from Jharkhand, told PTI.

The workers trapped inside for over 48 hours have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, Gurpreet Singh from Punjab, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu from Jharkhand.

Four of them are labourers and four are employees of the construction company, state minister Krishna Rao, who is overseeing the rescue efforts said.

Govind, another worker who was inside the tunnel that morning, told The Indian Express that the experience continues to haunt him.

“Some of us have not eaten since Saturday afternoon. The shout by the supervisors to run and the chaos after that as the tunnel went dark due to power supply disruption still haunts us. We are lucky we got out safely, but the thought of our brothers’ fate is eating away at us,” he said.

Rescue operation underway

A large-scale rescue mission is in progress to bring out the trapped workers following the tunnel collapse.

Around 300 trained personnel are involved in the operation, including 128 members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 120 from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 23 from Singareni Collieries, and 24 from the Army.

In the latest development, a team of rat miners has also been brought in to assist with the rescue. These are the same experts who were deployed during the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand nearly two years ago.

While rescuers have managed to reach over 13 km inside the tunnel, the final 100 metres remain blocked by water and thick slush, making it impossible to reach the trapped workers at the moment.

Efforts are being made to prevent further waterlogging, and alternative methods are being explored to remove the mud and debris inside the tunnel, officials said.

On Sunday evening, NDRF commandant Prasanna Kumar, who is overseeing the rescue efforts, told The Indian Express that dewatering had been carried out.

“Now, we are removing the slush and trying to reach the other side. Progress is slow as the team moves in a zig-zag pattern due to the heavy slush and the risks involved. They have gone over the slush and mud, and there is still about 100 metres left to cover… Our team is making sounds and calling out to the trapped men,” he said.

#WATCH | Nagarkurnool, Telangana: Rescue operations carried out inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel as a portion of the tunnel near Domalpenta collapsed on 22nd February.

At least eight workers are feared trapped. pic.twitter.com/m56YomPjWr

— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2025

Achampet MLA Vamsi Krishna, who was present at the site, told India Today that Larsen & Toubro has deployed a micro-camera to monitor the inside of the tunnel. This endoscopic camera will help locate the exact position of the trapped workers, making the rescue efforts more targeted.

“We have done this during the rescue operation in Uttarakhand as well. Two teams have come. Endoscopic and robotic cameras have been brought,” the camera operator told ANI.

Survival chances ‘very, very remote’

State minister Jupally Krishna Rao has expressed grave concerns about the survival of the trapped workers, warning that their chances are extremely slim.

“Muck has piled up too high inside the tunnel which has made it impossible to walk. The rescuers are using rubber tubes and wooden planks to navigate. The chances of survival are very, very, very, very remote. Because, I myself went up to the end, almost just 50 meters short (of the mishap site),” said Rao.

He further explained, “When we took photographs, the end (of the tunnel) was visible. And out of the 9-metre diameter (of the tunnel)—almost 30 feet, out of that 30 feet, mud has piled up to 25 feet.”

“When we shouted their names also, there was no response… so, there is no chance at all,” he added.

Rao, who has been supervising the rescue operations alongside Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, stated that despite all efforts, clearing the debris could take at least three to four days.

The situation is being closely monitored at both the central and state levels.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress party is in power in Telangana, spoke to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Sunday to enquire about the rescue operation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured also full support for the ongoing efforts.

With input from agencies