Eight Workers Trapped in Collapsed Tunnel in India

Eight Workers Remain Trapped in Collapsed Tunnel in India

Eight workers have been trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in the southern Indian state of Telangana since February 22nd. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but the workers remain out of contact.

The tunnel collapse occurred at the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal in the Nagarkurnool area. Of the 50 workers inside the tunnel at the time, 42 managed to escape. However, the fate of the remaining eight remains unknown.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stated that the exact location of the trapped workers is still unclear. The rescue operation is hampered by a thick layer of mud inside the tunnel, making it difficult to pinpoint their whereabouts.

Multiple agencies, including specialists from both state and central governments, are involved in the rescue efforts. Additional personnel and equipment are being deployed to intensify the removal of debris and sludge.

Scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute have reportedly used ground penetrating radar to detect the positions of four of the trapped workers. However, Chief Minister Reddy clarified that their exact locations remain uncertain.

The cause of the collapse is believed to be a sudden inflow of water and soil, causing a section of the tunnel to cave in. Experts suggest that seepage of water from nearby hillsides loosened the mud, triggering a mudslide.

The rescue operation is expected to be a complex and lengthy process. It could take another two to three days to locate the workers. The most challenging part of the operation is clearing debris from the final 20 meters of the tunnel, which is unstable and experiencing heavy water seepage.

Rescue agencies are considering alternative tunnel routes to reach the trapped workers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is monitoring the situation and has provided all necessary assistance.

The trapped workers 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.

Accidents related to large infrastructure projects are not uncommon in India. In 2023, a similar incident occurred in the northern state of Uttarakhand, where a 17-day rescue operation saved 41 workers trapped in a partially collapsed Himalayan road tunnel.