• Source:JND
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Telanagana Tunnel Collapse: Rescue teams working to extricate the eight trapped workers in the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel have begun cutting down a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to create an access path, officials said on Saturday morning. The operation, now in its final stages, has been ongoing for a week since the collapse occurred last Saturday.

Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad confirmed that rescue teams, including personnel from the Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SCCL and other agencies, are continuously working to locate and retrieve the trapped workers. "The rescue operation is ongoing. Teams are removing debris and cutting TBM parts to clear the path," he said. 

Increased Efforts To Remove Debris

On Friday, over 500 rescuers worked tirelessly to clear debris from the TBM and accumulated silt. Two key agencies—Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) and the South Central Railway (SCR)—have intensified the debris removal process. SCR technicians are dismantling the TBM and transporting its parts via trolleys, while SCCL miners are using earthmovers to load and remove debris. Officials are working in three shifts since Thursday to reach the exact location of the trapped individuals.

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Ground Probing Radar Detects Anomalies

Scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) used Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to scan the area. The study detected soft material within the last 10–15 meters of the tunnel but did not confirm whether it belonged to the trapped individuals. Authorities have warned against premature reports suggesting a breakthrough, as no confirmation has been made.

Structural Concerns Slow Progress

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) advised a cautious approach due to the possibility of additional debris falling in the final stretch. Despite this, officials anticipate reaching the trapped workers by late Friday night or early Saturday morning. The damaged conveyor belt in the tunnel is also being repaired to aid the rescue efforts.

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Identification Of Trapped Workers

The eight individuals trapped inside the SLBC tunnel include engineers, machine operators, and laborers working on the project. They have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, Gurpreet Singh from Punjab, and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu from Jharkhand. 

Among them, two are engineers, two are machine operators, and the remaining four are laborers. All eight were employed by Jaiprakash Associates, the contracting firm responsible for the SLBC tunnel project.

Government Plans Alternative Tunnel

The Telangana government has initiated plans to construct an alternative tunnel extension to provide additional entry and exit points in case of future emergencies. State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, and Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari visited the accident site to oversee the rescue operations.

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