Authorities in the southern Indian state of Telangana are in a race against time to save eight construction workers who have been trapped inside a tunnel for more than 72 hours. Initially, around 50 workers were working inside the 43km-long tunnel that collapsed partially early Saturday morning. However, only eight remain trapped, as 43 managed to escape safely. Efforts to rescue the remaining workers have faced significant setbacks due to the presence of loose soil, mud, and slush. Despite these challenges, officials have not been able to establish contact with the trapped men or provide them with necessary supplies such as oxygen. This has led state minister Jupally Krishna Rao to express grave concerns about the chances of their survival. An expert team of “rat-hole miners” trained in narrow tunnel navigation has been deployed to clear the debris. The team had previously successfully rescued 41 construction workers trapped in a tunnel following a landslide in Uttarakhand in 2023. The rescuers are currently making progress in excavating the tunnel but are hindered by the rough terrain of the region. Water is also continuously being pumped out to maintain an oxygen supply within the tunnel. Families of the trapped workers are anxiously waiting for news and express anger at authorities for allowing their loved ones to work in such hazardous conditions. The tunnel collapse occurred in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project, which is part of Telangana’s longest-running irrigation project. Despite this, construction work had resumed just four days before the accident. Various relief teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, firefighters, and soldiers from the Indian army, are on the scene. On Sunday, a team of firefighters attempted to reach the trapped workers but encountered many obstacles, including tall mounds of mud and soft soil. They were unable to proceed further without the necessary tools and machines to clear the slush. The rescuers shouted, whistled, and used torches but received no response. Relatives of the trapped men are now desperately hoping for a miracle.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czednek3r2jo