SLBC Tunnel Collapse: No breakthrough yet; last 50 meters blocked by muck, debris

Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said that the continuously flowing silt and water could endanger the lives of rescue workers working in the partially collapsed SLBC tunnel.

Despite relentless efforts by several agencies, no breakthrough has been achieved so far in the rescue operations, as thick muck, tangled iron rods, and cement blocks continue to impede the efforts to extricate the trapped persons from the partially collapsed tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in since Saturday morning.

Speaking to the media, Uttam Kumar cited specialists who described the rescue operation as the most complicated and challenging operation in India, due to the tunnel’s single entry/exit. He speculated that the collapse occurred as a result of a minor tectonic shift and the movement of some geological faults.

‘Seeking professional opinion to not endanger rescue workers’ lives'

“There’s one problem. The rapid flow of debris and water into the tunnel continues. As a result, some experts raised concerns that the persons participating in the rescue could imperil their lives. So, as a responsible government, we are seeking the finest professional opinion and will make a final decision on how to proceed,” the minister said.

Elaborating further about the ongoing rescue operations, Uttam said that professionals from 10 agencies, including the Indian Army, the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS) of the Navy, the NDRF, SDRF, GSI, Rat Miners and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd, are working around the clock to save the eight people. There are 11 state and national level agencies engaged in the operation of rescue.

A team of 584 skilled personnel from the Army, Navy, Singareni Collieries and other agencies along with Central and State disaster response teams, have conducted tunnel inspections seven times. Official sources said that adding gas cutters to cut the metal rod is helping push the way through.

Contact has not been established with workers yet

He also said that a unified command control system has been established, which is regularly monitored by special chief secretary Arvind Kumar.

“People are working tirelessly in the tunnel. We are receiving videos and images. Experts are assessing them,” he said. When asked about the current circumstances, he said, “We will make a collective decision.” Even though oxygen is being pumped into the tunnel, there has been no contact with the trapped workers.

According to the minister, the State government had employed the greatest expertise available in India and the world to save the lives of those who are trapped.

Dewatering is in progress, says collector

Nagarkurnool District Collector B Santhosh on Tuesday said before taking any step forward, the stability of the tunnel has been taken into consideration even as dewatering is going on.

“As of now, we are not able to communicate with the trapped workers. We are taking the advice of the Geological Survey of India and some other experts. As of now we are dewatering and moving forward. But, we are unable to cross the last 40 or 50 meters. As of now, we are taking the advice of GSI and NGRI. L&T experts have also come here,” the collector told vernacular media.

‘Reaching last 50 meters blocked due to muck and debris’

The collector further said that the teams were not able to go into the last 50 meters where the eight persons were trapped, due to accumulation of muck and debris.

Besides GSI and NGRI, an Australian expert associated with L&T who has vast experience in tunnel-related operations has been roped in to assess the stability of the SLBC tunnel at the accident site.

Uttam Kumar slams BRS chief over remarks

Reacting to BRS’ criticism that chief minister A Revanth Reddy has visited Delhi 36 times but did not have time to visit those trapped in the SLBC tunnel even after 72 hours, Uttam Reddy termed it as ‘disgraceful politics.’

Launching a scathing attack on the BRS, he said, “Anybody who is criticising, please remember, there is no space for disgraceful politics. It is shameful that somebody is talking about it in such a way.”

Recalling that eight people died during a fire accident at Srisailam Left Bank Power Plant and seven were killed at the Kaleshwaram Project when BRS was in power, the minister said they never criticised the then government.