At least six workers are believed to be trapped after a part of an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Telangana on Saturday. The police said the construction firm has sent an assessment team to collect more information. The accident took place in a tunnel behind the Srisailam dam when workers were inside to fix a leak. While three of them escaped, at least six are trapped, and a rescue operation was launched to save them.
The tunnel, located in Amrabad along the newly under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) in Nagarkurnool district, had just reopened four days before the collapse.
A government statement confirmed, “A section of the SLBC tunnel behind the Srisailam dam near Domalapenta collapsed on Saturday. Specifically, at the 14th km mark, the roof of the left-side tunnel collapsed for three meters. This occurred when staff were carrying out their work at the site.”
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy conveyed his dismay regarding the incident through an online posting. Though he confirmed that numerous individuals were hurt, he didn’t state how many.
“After getting news of the tunnel collapse and a few injuries, the Chief Minister promptly informed the officials. He directed the District Collector, SP, Fire Department, Hydra, and Irrigation Department officials to rush to the site immediately and extend relief measures,” his post said.
Minister of Irrigation N Uttam Kumar, among others, has left for the site of the accident in a special helicopter. Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy has meanwhile asked for information on the reason why the collapse occurred and directed officials to ensure safe recovery of trapped personnel. In an X post, he also asked the officials to provide proper medical attention to injured personnel.
