Rescue efforts continue in Nagarkurnool district to save eight construction workers trapped for over 72 hours after a section of a tunnel collapsed.
Race Against Time: Search Intensifies for Eight Workers Trapped in Telangana Tunnel
Race Against Time: Search Intensifies for Eight Workers Trapped in Telangana Tunnel
Authorities in Telangana are battling difficulties as they strive to rescue eight workers trapped in an underground tunnel since Saturday.
Efforts to free the eight construction workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana have escalated as rescue teams face significant challenges. The workers became trapped Saturday morning after a section of a roof caved in, affecting around 50 laborers working within the 43km-long tunnel. While 42 workers escaped, the conditions within the tunnel complicated the rescue of the remaining eight. Authorities have struggled to establish contact with those trapped and provide them with necessary supplies, such as oxygen.
Jupally Krishna Rao, a local government minister supervising the rescue operation, remarked to the media that "the chances of their survival are very remote." A specialized team of "rat-hole miners," proficient in navigating narrow tunnels, has been called to join the operation, recalling a previous successful rescue of trapped workers in Uttarakhand this year. Rescuers have completed 33km of excavation but face 10km of arduous work ahead. They are utilizing a train to access the site and a conveyor belt to clear debris while also pumping out water to sustain breathable conditions within the tunnel. The difficult terrain has slowed down their progress, adding urgency to the operation.
Family members of the trapped men await anxious updates, grappling with fear and frustration. "I just hope that this time my son comes back safe. I will never send him away to earn again," said Rampratap Sahu, whose son is trapped. Others have expressed outrage over the risks the men were exposed to while working.
The collapse was triggered after a concrete slab fell from the tunnel's roof due to seepage issues, resulting in injuries to at least a dozen workers and prompting an immediate response from various rescue teams including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian military personnel. As the effort prolongs, rescue teams have hit setbacks like layers of mud and a flipped boring machine, which blocks further passage and necessitates better equipment to clear the mess.
Desperation looms over families as they cling onto hope amidst uncertainty. "When I left home, my wife held me, wept and said, do not come back empty-handed. Bring back my son," recounted Rampratap, emphasizing the emotional weight of the situation while they await news from the dark depths of the tunnel.
Jupally Krishna Rao, a local government minister supervising the rescue operation, remarked to the media that "the chances of their survival are very remote." A specialized team of "rat-hole miners," proficient in navigating narrow tunnels, has been called to join the operation, recalling a previous successful rescue of trapped workers in Uttarakhand this year. Rescuers have completed 33km of excavation but face 10km of arduous work ahead. They are utilizing a train to access the site and a conveyor belt to clear debris while also pumping out water to sustain breathable conditions within the tunnel. The difficult terrain has slowed down their progress, adding urgency to the operation.
Family members of the trapped men await anxious updates, grappling with fear and frustration. "I just hope that this time my son comes back safe. I will never send him away to earn again," said Rampratap Sahu, whose son is trapped. Others have expressed outrage over the risks the men were exposed to while working.
The collapse was triggered after a concrete slab fell from the tunnel's roof due to seepage issues, resulting in injuries to at least a dozen workers and prompting an immediate response from various rescue teams including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian military personnel. As the effort prolongs, rescue teams have hit setbacks like layers of mud and a flipped boring machine, which blocks further passage and necessitates better equipment to clear the mess.
Desperation looms over families as they cling onto hope amidst uncertainty. "When I left home, my wife held me, wept and said, do not come back empty-handed. Bring back my son," recounted Rampratap, emphasizing the emotional weight of the situation while they await news from the dark depths of the tunnel.
