NEW DELHI: The rescue team on Sunday recovered one body from the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, which collapsed on February 22, trapping eight workers. Officials reported that the body was found stuck in a machine, with only a hand visible.
“We found one dead body stuck in the machine, with only the hand visible. The rescue teams are currently cutting the machine to retrieve it,” an official stated.
Key Developments in the Rescue Operation
Cadaver Dogs Detect Human Remains
As the rescue operation entered its 17th day, a Kerala cadaver dog squad was deployed inside the partially collapsed tunnel. Telangana irrigation and civil supplies minister Uttam Kumar Reddy revealed that the dogs detected a strong odour, suggesting the presence of three individuals at a specific location.
He assured that the government would provide full support to the families of the missing workers. The minister also reviewed the ongoing dewatering and desilting efforts and confirmed that further updates would be shared after a March 11 assessment.
Robotic Technology Deployed for Rescue
On Saturday, Reddy announced that robotic technology had been introduced to accelerate the rescue operations and locate the trapped workers.
Describing the incident as a national disaster, he emphasized that the state government was utilizing advanced global technology to navigate challenges in the final stretch of the 14-kilometre tunnel.
“The use of robots for the last 70 meters (at the accident site) was discussed with the concerned agency. Robots will be deployed and tested from Tuesday onwards, in addition to ongoing rescue efforts,” a senior official told PTI.
Challenges in Locating the Trapped Workers
Despite two weeks of continuous efforts by 11 national-level rescue teams, locating and retrieving the trapped workers remains a major challenge. The government is consulting global tunnel construction and rescue experts to determine the safest approach.
Background: How the Crisis Unfolded
The tunnel collapse occurred on February 22, when a three-metre section of the roof of the under-construction SLBC tunnel collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta, Telangana.
The incident happened just four days after construction had resumed following a prolonged hiatus. While some workers managed to escape, eight remained trapped, triggering an extensive rescue mission.
