At least six workers are feared trapped after a section of the roof collapsed in an under-construction stretch of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on Saturday, police said.
A team from the construction company has entered the tunnel to assess the situation, officials confirmed. “According to information from the company involved in the project, six to eight workers may be trapped,” a senior police official told PTI.
The collapse occurred approximately 12-13 kilometers inside the tunnel while workers were engaged in construction activities. A press release from the Chief Minister’s Office stated that some individuals had sustained injuries but did not specify the number.
PM Modi assures full support and assistance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy regarding the ongoing rescue operations at the SLBC tunnel and assured full support and assistance in the efforts.
CM Revanth Reddy expressed deep condolences over the incident and promptly alerted officials upon receiving news of the tunnel roof collapse, which left several people injured. He directed the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Fire Services Department, and HYDRAA to rush to the site and initiate immediate relief and rescue operations, according to the Telangana CMO.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has instructed the district Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other officials to reach the site and oversee rescue operations. Following his directives, State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, government adviser on irrigation Adityanath Das, and other officials departed for the location via a special helicopter.
Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy expressed concern over the incident, urging officials to expedite rescue efforts and ensure the trapped workers are brought to safety. He also directed them to provide immediate medical attention to any injured workers, according to a statement from his office.