The desperate race against time continues in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district, where rescue teams are working tirelessly to reach the eight workers trapped inside the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel. As the operation enters its eighth day, hope flickers amid the daunting challenges faced by those on the ground.
A breakthrough could be near, as experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) have detected anomalies inside the tunnel using Ground Probing Radar (GPR). The radar scans suggest the presence of soft material beneath the debris in the final stretch of the tunnel. However, it remains uncertain whether this could be the remains of the trapped individuals or simply displaced earth from the collapse. Nevertheless, the discovery has prompted a renewed surge of effort, with specialized rat miners being deployed to the specific site identified by the scanning equipment.
The air at the rescue site is heavy with tension and anticipation. Ambulances have been lined up in the nearby village of Domalapenta, and forensic experts from Hyderabad have been instructed to reach the tunnel site urgently. These preparations hint at a grim reality—that rescue teams may soon locate the trapped workers, but the likelihood of their survival diminishes with each passing hour.
Despite the harrowing situation, over 500 rescue personnel, including teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, Singareni Collieries, and the South Central Railway, continue their relentless efforts. Using high-powered plasma cutting machines, they have been painstakingly dismantling parts of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that had been obstructing their access to the deeper sections of the tunnel. Simultaneously, dewatering and debris removal operations are being carried out in a desperate attempt to reach the men before it is too late.
This tragic incident has exposed the vulnerabilities in tunnel infrastructure and emergency response mechanisms. In light of the collapse, the Telangana government is considering constructing an alternative tunnel to provide an additional entry or exit point in case of future emergencies. Such measures, while necessary, come as little consolation to the families waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones.
For those working inside the tunnel, every moment counts. The courage and resilience of the rescuers, some of whom have risked their own lives in the process, stand as a testament to human perseverance in the face of disaster. But as darkness looms over the wreckage, the painful question remains—will this be a rescue or a recovery?
