NAGARKURNOOL: Rescue operations in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel have entered their 37th day, as efforts persist to locate six workers still missing following the tunnel collapse on February 22. Special Officer Shivshankar Lotheti conducted a review meeting with senior officials and extended Ugadi greetings to the rescue teams working tirelessly, acknowledging their dedication despite being away from their families during the festival.
Lotheti emphasized that the government and district administration are utilizing all available resources, including specialized personnel and advanced technologies, to expedite the rescue operations. The teams involved comprise members from the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni Collieries, Hydra, Railways, Geological Survey of India (GSI), National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), rat-hole miners, professors from IIT Madras, specially trained cadaver dogs from Kerala, and robotic experts.
Continuous dewatering processes are underway, with obstructive steel structures being removed and soil excavation progressing. The excavated material is being transported out of the tunnel using conveyor belts to facilitate the ongoing rescue efforts.
Despite the challenging conditions, the relentless efforts of the rescue teams continue, aiming to locate and retrieve the remaining six workers trapped inside the tunnel.
