‘Not Very Good’: Telangana Minister On Chances Of Survival Of Trapped Workers Inside SLBC Tunne

The chances of survival for the eight people trapped inside the collapsed portion of a tunnel in Nagarkurnool District of Telangana are “not very good”, said state minister Jupalli Krishna Rao on Sunday. 

The workers got trapped around 14 kilometres inside the tunnel of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal project after part of its roof collapsed on Saturday in the Nagakurnool district of the state. 

According to the ministers, four labourers, two company employees, and two international employees were among those trapped inside. 

“I can’t predict the chances of survival, but the chances are not very good… But even if there is the slightest chance, we will try to save them,” said the Minister speaking to reporters from the rescue site. 

VIDEO | SLBC tunnel mishap: Rescue operations continue in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool as eight people remain trapped.

(Source: Third Party)

(Full video available on PTI Videos- https://t.co/dv5TRARJn4) pic.twitter.com/4rsaOMubma

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“There are 8 people – 4 labourers, 2 company employees and 2 international employees… We are not sparing any effort and there is no lapse at all,” he added. 

National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Army personnel, and company employees are involved in the rescue operations. On Saturday, a rescue team made headway and reached the spot where a tunnel boring machine was working during the incident, Nagarkurnool District Collector B Santhosh said on Sunday.

However, silt is posing a challenge to move further to reach the spot where the people are believed to have been trapped, he added.

Oxygen and power supply have been made available in the tunnel and dewatering and de-silting operation is also underway. However the rescuers have not been able to establish communication with those trapped.

After reaching 13.5 kilometres inside the tunnel called those trapped, but did not get any reply from them, Santhosh said. After this point, there is still a 200-meter patch and it is only after reaching near them their condition would be known, he added.