Rescue Operations Continue, No Sign of 8 Missing Workers

Rescue operations are ongoing to save the eight workers trapped inside the SLBC tunnel. However, the challenging conditions inside have hindered progress for the second consecutive day. The tunnel is filled with mud, and the collapse of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) head, along with obstructing equipment, has made it difficult for rescue teams to move forward.

Army and NDRF teams have reached close to the TBM and have been calling out the names of the trapped workers, but there has been no response from inside. The incident occurred on Saturday morning at the 14-kilometer mark from the Srisailam reservoir side, when the ceiling of the tunnel suddenly collapsed while workers were engaged in their tasks. Some managed to escape, but eight workers remained trapped near the TBM. The missing individuals have been identified as Sunny Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Santosh Sahu, Anuj Sahu, Jagtaj Singh, Sandeep Sahu, Manoj Kumar, and Srinivas.

Naval personnel from Visakhapatnam have arrived via three helicopters and will join the rescue efforts from today. The Singareni rescue team, experienced in underground mine rescues, has also reached the site with specialized equipment.

A total of 130 NDRF personnel, 120 SDRF personnel, 24 Army personnel, 24 members from the Singareni rescue team, and 24 from Hydra are actively participating in the rescue mission.