Telangana tunnel accident: 8 laborers trapped for five days, rescue operations continue

Eight laborers have been stranded for the last five days after the accident in Srisalum Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project in Telangana. Rescue operations are continuously continuing, but so far no success has been achieved. Due to continuous water and mud in the tunnel, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Marcos Commandos of the Indian Navy could not succeed in saving them.

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How did the accident happen?

The SLBC tunnel project is part of an irrigation scheme, which aims to deliver water from Srisailam reservoir to Nalgonda district of Telangana. During the excavation of the tunnel on 22 February, a part of the roof suddenly collapsed, causing eight laborers working there.

According to reports, the soil slowed down due to water leakage from the hills above the tunnel, causing this accident. Experts say this area was already sensitive to the soil and drilling further increased the danger.

Challenges are coming in rescue operations

• Due to continuous water and mud, it is becoming difficult for the rescue team to reach the workers.
• No contact with the trapped laborers could not be transported to them any food or water.
• There is a danger of further collapse of soil and roof, due to which rescue operations have to be stopped again and again.
• Now the rescue team has started an attempt to locate the laborers with the help of smelling dogs.

Why are such accidents happening again and again?

This is the third major tunnel accident in the last one year:

1. Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand), November 2023: 41 laborers were trapped due to the collapse of the Silkyara tunnel, which were evacuated after 16 days.
2. Assam, January 2025: 9 miners were trapped due to water entering the illegal mine in Dima Hasao district. Despite the 44 days rescue operations, the bodies of all the workers were recovered.

The question arises from these accidents whether such projects are being cleared without complete security? Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu has assured that the government will try its best to save the eight laborers. But this accident is raising serious questions on the safety of construction projects in the country.