The Telangana Government has withdrawn the Srisailam Left Bank Canal Tunnel rescue operation based on the report of the Geological Survey of India (GSI). State Irrigation Minister Uttamkumar Reddy informed this at Nagarkurnool yesterday.
He said the operation had been withdrawn following a report from the GSI, which flagged the danger posed to rescuers in proceeding further at the actual site of the incident. The Minister said all the expert teams drawn from various organisations, including the Indian Army, have been withdrawn, and an expert team has been set up to suggest ways and means for the tunnel project.
A total of 8 individuals, including Engineers and workers, were trapped under debris when the SLBC tunnel partially collapsed deep inside the SLBC tunnel. During a 65-day-long rescue operation held by multiple agencies, two bodies were recovered while six more remained untraced. The irrigation minister said the government had announced 25 lakh rupees ex-gratia to the families of each victim.
The Telangana Government has withdrawn the Srisailam Left Bank Canal Tunnel rescue operation based on the report of the Geological Survey of India (GSI). State Irrigation Minister Uttamkumar Reddy informed this at Nagarkurnool yesterday. He said the operation had been withdrawn following a report from the GSI, which flagged the danger posed to rescuers in proceeding further at the actual site of the incident.
Though the expert panel is expected to submit its report within a fortnight, no specific timeline has been set for its recommendations on the way ahead.
Based on the experts’ suggestions, the State government may consider adopting the ‘drill and blast’ method to continue work toward the Srisailam reservoir end of the tunnel. The boring method implemented so far using TBMs has been shelved in view of the challenges in the upcoming three-kilometre stretch, according to officials.
They said that work would resume only after “normalcy” is restored, with plans finalised for the implementation of the pending tasks. The timeline for resuming work remains uncertain, and the original deadline of December 2026 set by the Congress government for project completion is no longer relevant. Further geological assessments will be a priority at this stage. The absence of safety features such as escape routes every 400–500 metres was a critical flaw exposed by the tragedy, and it needs to be addressed.