Nagarkurnool, Telangana – February 22, 2025
In a tragic accident on Saturday morning, an uncompleted section of the roof of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool District of Telangana collapsed, trapping at least six workers beneath it. The incident has raised an immediate rescue operation, as well as directions in quick succession by state officials for the safe retreival of the persons trapped within the operation.
Details of the Incident
The collapse occurred almost 14 kilometers inside the tunnel, near the Srisailam reservoir. At the time of the incident, about 50 workers were working on the site, with 43 escaping unharmed. Others remain trapped under debris. Primary reports say water surged into the tunnels and occasioned the collapse due to turning on a Tunnel Boring Machine during routine excavation work.
Search Operation
A rescue team was mobilized soon after to address the crisis. Three injured workers have so far been brought out of the tunnel and shifted to Genco Hospital for treatment. The operation is focused on trying to reach others trapped within the tunnel. Operations remain very difficult within the tunnel due to unstable debris and also intractable as the distance from the entrance is quite long.
Official Response
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has expressed grave concern regarding the matter. He directed the Nagarkurnool district administration, fire department, and irrigation department to expedite relief operations and rescue accordingly those workers trapped in the debris.
In accordance with the Chief Minister’s directives, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tourism and Culture Affairs Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, and other senior officials were airlifted via special helicopter to oversee the rescue process and provide the much-needed assistance.
Historical Context
This is, by far, not the only incident that has occurred in the region. The SLBC tunnel is designed to ensure irrigation improvement in the state of Telangana. However, construction work in that region has been marred by accidents in the past, including a tragic fire incident at the Srisailam Left Bank Hydel Power Station, within a tunnel, which unfortunately claimed nine lives in 2020. This illustrates the risks encountered during the realization of large projects, especially involving tunneling.
Safety Concerns and Measures
Such turning of the incidents incites valid inquiries about the safety protocol and preventive measures in place by the large infrastructure in the region. Worker Safety has to be topmost in the minds, and calls for thorough review and arrangement for safety standards. The state government should start an inquiry into what caused the present collapse so the same does not repeat itself.
Community Impact
For the community, this situation has been surreal. Their hearts and minds are anxiously waiting for information regarding their family members. A sense of lost hopes and sense of relief has fallen upon the affected region. Counseling assistance is being mobilized to support affected families at this sad turn of events.
Looking Ahead
With the rescue continuing, time is ripe for the state government along with construction and engineering firms to reconsider and review them against going risk assessments, design and test layout, and alternative modeling of infrastructures. Regular safety drills, risk assessments, and the introduction of modern monitoring technology for the detection of problems beforehand and the provision of solutions to avoid their occurrence should be adhered to more seriously.
