Telangana Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and K Venkatreddy have reviewed the situation with Tunnel Works experts afresh this morning while the rescue teams are making all-out efforts to reach out to the trapped eight persons in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Tunnel project.
The new teams of experts in tunnel works have joined the site from New Delhi and also from the Border Security force. Indian Army officials including Col. Blacksmith Mehra, Left Col Harpal, NDRF DIG Shahadi, Navy official V K Prasad and Rat Miners team official Firoz Khureshi among others discussed the strategy for rescue activities to get access to the trapped.
Dewatering operations, ordered by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, are underway, with multiple agencies, including GSI and L&T, assisting in debris removal. Meanwhile, families of the trapped workers wait anxiously, as rescuers struggle to establish contact and clear the final stretch.
“A 20 member team comprising NDRF, SDRF and rat miners were able to reach the last point of the (tunnel). But there was a lot of debris. They are working out how to go about,” Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad said.
The teams earlier were able to reach up to 50 meters before the end of the tunnel only due to slush and debris. “A day ago, they were able to reach up to 40 meters (before the end of the tunnel). Yesterday, they reached (crossed) that 40 meters also,” the official further said. Mr. Gaikwad further said the team searched at the location but could not find anything last night