Rescue operations in the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district entered their 14th day on Friday, with the deployment of cadaver dogs from Kerala and a team of robotic experts to locate eight missing workers.
The highly trained cadaver dogs, known for their ability to detect human remains even in challenging conditions, arrived with their handlers by an Army helicopter on Thursday. The special dog squad held a meeting with Nagarkurnool District Collector Badavath Santosh and officials from the Disaster Management Authority before conducting an initial assessment inside the tunnel. Their role is expected to be crucial in the search for the missing workers, who have been trapped since February 22, when a portion of the tunnel’s roof collapsed.
Alongside the canine units, a four-member robotic expert team from ANVI Robotics was also deployed to assist in the operation. Accompanied by a professor from IIT Madras, the team entered the tunnel to conduct a detailed inspection using robotic technology. The experts, who had assessed the tunnel’s surroundings on Thursday, returned on Friday to continue their evaluation. Their robotic assistance is helping authorities analyze conditions deep inside the tunnel, aiding in rescue efforts.
The decision to introduce robotic technology was made following Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s visit to the site on Sunday, during which he directed officials to explore all possible means to expedite the rescue. Meanwhile, Disaster Management Secretary Arvind Kumar has been coordinating the efforts, ensuring a steady flow of updates and resources for the ground teams. Upon receiving reports about battery issues and the need for a rock cutter, he arranged for a locomotive to deliver the required equipment into the tunnel.
Rescue workers have been using water jets to clear debris and slush from the accident site. Personnel from multiple agencies, including the Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni Collieries, HYDRAA, and specialized rat-hole miners, have been working relentlessly to remove the obstructions.
The collapse occurred along a 150-meter stretch inside the tunnel, where around 50 workers had been engaged in excavation using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) roughly 14 kilometers from the entrance. While most of the workers managed to escape, eight remained trapped as the tunnel filled with water and debris, complicating rescue efforts.
–IANS
