HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to intensify SLBC tunnel rescue operations to locate the workers trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel accident. He instructed the Chief Secretary to appoint senior IAS officer L. Shashank as Special Officer to monitor the operation on-site and oversee the entire rescue process.
On Monday afternoon, the Chief Minister held a high-level review meeting at the Assembly Committee Hall to assess the progress of the ongoing SLBC tunnel rescue operations, nearly a month after the tunnel collapse. Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, and senior officials were present.
Special Chief Secretary for Disaster Management Arvind Kumar and Col. Parikshit Mehra briefed the Chief Minister on the current status. They reported that nearly 25 agencies—including central and state departments and private firms—are engaged in the massive operation, with over 700 personnel deployed at the site.
Authorities informed that collapsed rock formations and parts of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) are being welded and removed, while debris, silt, and water are continuously cleared to facilitate further access. A PowerPoint presentation showed comparative visuals from the incident day and current conditions, highlighting the operation’s complexity.
The accident occurred 14 kilometres from the tunnel inlet, with limited light and poor ventilation posing major challenges. Officials said a 30-metre zone near the collapse site is classified as high-risk. Based on scientific assessments by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), rescue operations are being executed cautiously.
Revanth Reddy stressed the importance of tracing the missing workers and exploring every possible method. He directed authorities to obtain all required clearances from the Centre for emergency interventions and ensure strict adherence to expert committee recommendations.
The SLBC tunnel accident took place on February 22, trapping eight workers. On March 9, one body—identified as Gurpreet Singh—was recovered. Efforts continue to trace the remaining missing workers.
The Chief Minister assured that the government is committed to the operation and will provide all necessary support.
The review meeting was attended by Telangana-Andhra Sub-Area GOC Ajay Mishra, Irrigation Advisor Adityanath Das, and representatives from NDRF, SDRF, NGRI, GSI, Singareni, HYDRAA, Fire Services, SLBC contractor MD Pankaj Gaur, and district officials from Nagarkurnool.
ఎస్ఎల్బీసీ టన్నెల్లో జరిగిన ప్రమాద ఘటనలో సహాయక చర్యలను కొనసాగించాలని ముఖ్యమంత్రి @revanth_anumula గారు అధికారులను ఆదేశించారు. సహాయక చర్యల నిరంతర పర్యవేక్షణకు ఒక సీనియర్ ఐఏఎస్ అధికారిని నియమించాలని ప్రభుత్వ ప్రధాన కార్యదర్శి శాంతి కుమారి గారిని ఆదేశించారు.
✳️ఎస్ఎల్బీసీ… pic.twitter.com/8xk1DSAXsj
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) March 24, 2025
