Race Against Time: Telangana's Search for Tunnel Trapped Workers

Telangana's Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has directed an urgent operation to rescue seven individuals trapped in the collapsed SLBC tunnel. The search is complicated by challenging conditions, demanding consultation with experts and rigorous scientific methods. Efforts involve 700 personnel from various agencies, highlighting the mission's complexity.

Telangana's Chief Minister, K Chandrashekar Rao, has called for swift action in the rescue operation of seven individuals trapped in the partially collapsed SLBC tunnel. He urged officials to engage experts to devise an effective rescue plan, ensuring that the mission's intricacies are addressed holistically.

During a high-profile meeting, it was suggested that IAS officer Shivashankar Lotheti oversee the operation directly. Progress has been steady since the tunnel's partial collapse on February 22. Efforts are concentrated on clearing soil, stones, debris, and damaged parts of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), in addition to dewatering the affected area.

The search operation, however, faces challenges due to its deep interior location, approximately 14 kilometers within the tunnel, where poor light and ventilation compound the difficulties. A portion of the accident site, spanning 30 meters, is deemed exceptionally perilous, necessitating adherence to scientific guidance from the National Geophysical Research Institute and the Geological Survey of India.

(With inputs from agencies.)