Rescue operations inside the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district have entered their twelfth day, with efforts ramping up as teams clear massive amounts of debris. Still, not much headway could be made in tracing the eight missing personnel trapped inside the collapsed tunnel since February 22.
Metal debris cleared as rescue gains momentum
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, debris clearance inside the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Domalapenta of Nagarkurnool district gained momentum. Metal pieces were removed from the maintenance area, and two excavators loaded the debris onto the locomotive.
Although little progress has been made in tracing the eight missing personnel trapped inside the collapsed tunnel since February 22, rescue teams are systematically clearing the massive quantity of accumulated debris, which includes metal pieces, rocks, and slush. Officials monitoring the rescue operation reported on Wednesday that the conveyor belt is functional up to 10 km from the tunnel’s mouth.
“Trial run for the last three kilometers is in progress to reach the end of the tunnel. We hope it will be functional by today. The conveyor belt is only used to bring our silt, while the loco brings metal.” Sources said.
South Central Railway (SCR) engineers tackle key obstacles in rescue missions
The South Central Railway’s (SCR) mechanical engineering team has successfully removed the compressor that was struck in the middle of the mishap site. According to an official, this will allow the excavator to enter the tunnel deeper.
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The South Central Railway (SCR) is one of the 19 zones of Indian Railways; its jurisdiction covers the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The zone has three administrative divisions: Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and Nanded. The zonal headquarters is in Secunderabad, Telangana.
The rescue teams have extended the ventilation tube to 25 meters, and efforts are underway to add another 75 meters of tube to extend it to the end of the tunnel. The National Disaster Response Force’s (NDRF) sniffer dog indicated that digging to an extent of six feet near the platform that housed the tunnel boring machine (TBM) is ongoing.
Officials said lights had been installed until the end of the tunnel, and two pedestal fans were also fixed inside on both digging points.
“We expect works to speed up today,” officials maintained.
Telangana disaster sparks renewed calls for safety measures
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Center for Seismology (NCS) teams continue investigating. The Geological Survey of India (GSI), founded in 1851, is a scientific agency of India.
As a Government of India organization under the Ministry of Mines, it is one of the oldest organizations in the world and the second oldest survey in India after the Survey of India (founded in 1767) for conducting geological surveys and studies of India. Also, it is the prime provider of basic earth science information to government, industry and the general public, as well as the official participant in steel, coal, metals, cement, power industries and international geoscientific forums.
On Wednesday, GSI Director A.P. Thapliyal visited the site to assess the tunnel’s structural integrity and guide further excavation strategies.
As the search for the eight trapped workers continues, the Telangana tunnel rescue serves as an essential reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness. Like the recent flood rescue efforts in Daviess County, this rescue stresses the importance of readiness and swift action in saving lives.