SLBC Tunnel Collapse: Remaining excavation to be done using drilling and blasting method
On February 22, eight workers were trapped inside the SCBL tunnel, only two bodies found, six of them were presumed dead and compensated by government
By Newsmeter Network
Telangana: SLBC Tunnel final excavation shifts to drilling and blasting method over safety concerns
Hyderabad: A State-appointed technical committee has recommended that the remaining portion of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) inlet tunnel be excavated using the drilling and blasting method (DBM), citing the infeasibility of tunnel boring machine (TBM) operations under current conditions.
The committee also advised that all work must comply with the environmental clearance issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
The suggestion comes in the wake of a tragic tunnel collapse at the SLBC inlet on February 22, which trapped eight workers. Only two bodies have been recovered so far, and the State government has since presumed the remaining workers dead, compensating their families accordingly.
High-risk zone halts rescue efforts
The excavation, which spans 13.9 km, was halted on April 24 after experts flagged the final 50-meter stretch as highly dangerous. Although rescue operations briefly resumed, the technical panel has now called for a comprehensive geotechnical survey of this critical zone. The survey is to be conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).
Environmental compliance is a key concern
The proposed excavation method is considered suitable for the ecologically sensitive region, as the tunnel route passes beneath the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. The committee noted that drilling and blasting would not produce surface-level noise, making it compliant with wildlife protection norms.
Rock mechanics expertās sought
To aid in locating the remaining trapped workers, the committee recommended involving Dr Ajay Kumar Naithani from the National Institute for Rock Mechanics (NIRM). Rescue efforts, the committee advised, should be executed per his scientific guidance and methodology.
