India’s 9 prime businesses type unified command to save lots of 8 lives in Telangana SLBC tunnel collapse

Telangana irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy with Tourism and Tradition Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on the Srisailam Left Financial institution Canal (SLBC) tunnel.
| Photograph Credit score: Deal with @UttamINC on X

It’s a race towards time because the nation’s prime 9 businesses famend for dealing with rescue operations throughout pure disasters are working around the clock to the save the eight individuals caught contained in the Srisailam Left Financial institution Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool district, part of which collapsed on Saturday (February 22, 2025) morning.

“The crack groups comprising skilled personnel from the Indian Military, Indian Navy, Nationwide Catastrophe Response Power (NDRF), State Catastrophe Response Power (SDRF), Nationwide Hydrological Investigation company and different associated departments have been shaped right into a unified command to supervise the rescue operations,” Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy informed The Hindu on Monday (February 24, 2025).

Mr. Reddy, who has been coordinating with totally different businesses for the reason that information broke on Saturday, stated that all the most expertise personnel are assembly each couple of hours to assessment the scenario and devising plans to beat the unexpected hurdles which are cropping up with every passing hour. High Military and Navy officers are additionally tenting at SLBC to supervise the rescue operations. Particular Chief Secretary (Income – Catastrophe Administration) Arvind Kumar has been made the nodal particular person to observe the developments.

70 personnel received into the tunnel on Saturday morning

Glen, the challenge supervisor of the USA primarily based The Robbins Firm – which is world famend for offering Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) – was main the work on the fateful day. Quoting Mr. Glen, the Minister stated the 70 personnel together with engineers all received into the tunnel as ordinary at 8 a.m. of Saturday.

“Whereas a few personnel have been within the entrance, the remainder have been behind. A small leak was observed which the positioning engineers discovered not very uncommon. Whereas working in such big tasks, these small leaks are all the time seen and the work goes on,” Mr. Glen was quoted as telling the Minister.

The catastrophe strikes

Nevertheless, catastrophe caught as there was sudden gush of water and muck with such a drive that the machine was pushed again leaving the employees operating for his or her lives. Eight individuals, who have been shut the purpose the place a gaping gap occurred, couldn’t rush out. “They’re stated to be caught at that time,” the US Challenge Supervisor informed the Minister prompting emergency response from the Governmental businesses.

Mr. Glen himself managed to hurry out within the nick of the time to save lots of himself. The Web site Engineers imagine it might be a geological fault line that might have ended within the mishap. The work on the challenge had been stopped for nearly 5 years through the earlier Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime and it was solely after the Congress Authorities got here to energy, the work resumed.

Settlement to take up SLBC challenge made in 2005

Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy stated the settlement to take up the SLBC challenge was made in 2005 through the regime headed by late Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The price of the challenge was ₹4,600 crore at the moment and the tunnel covers a distance of 44 kms of which work on 35 kms is already accomplished. Apparently, the tunnel works are 400 metres beneath the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. The environmental clearance was given solely after the Authorities assured that the tunnel would have finish to finish opening in its 44 kms run from Srisailam to Devarakonda.

Challenge to irrigate 4 lakh acres ayacut

As soon as accomplished, the challenge will draw 30 tmcft water to irrigate four-lakh acres of ayacut in Nalgonda and Khammam district. That is additionally World’s longest irrigation tunnel.

Terming it as a ‘freak’ accident, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy stated they weren’t certain when the rescue operations would conclude. “The joint rescue groups are placing of their greatest to make sure a cheerful ending to the unlucky mishap,” he remarked.