At least six workers are feared trapped after a section of the roof collapsed inside an under-construction tunnel in Nagarkurnool district. According to police, the incident occurred 12 to 13 km inside the tunnel at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project. Workers were inside when a portion of the tunnel’s roof suddenly gave way. The company handling the project informed officials that six to eight workers might be trapped inside.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the accident. A statement from his office confirmed that he was immediately informed and had directed key officials, including the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Fire Services Department, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and Irrigation Department, to rush to the site and begin rescue efforts.
Rescue Operations underway
Though the CM’s statement did not specify the number of injuries, it confirmed that some workers had suffered injuries. Following the CM’s orders, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, advisor Adityanath Das, and senior irrigation officials have flown to the site in a special helicopter to oversee the rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy has also expressed concern and instructed officials to ensure the trapped workers are rescued safely and the injured receive immediate medical attention. The accident has sparked political backlash, with BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) blaming CM Revanth Reddy for the incident.
“The Chief Minister must take full responsibility for the SLBC tunnel accident,” KTR stated on X (formerly Twitter). He also criticized the government, calling the accident proof of poor governance, especially after the Sunkishala retaining wall collapse.
KTR further alleged that such incidents occur because of corruption, lack of supervision, and poor construction standards. “These accidents happen due to contractors working hand in hand with officials, lack of proper monitoring, and a complete compromise on quality.
Emergency teams, including disaster response units, police, and fire services, are working to clear debris and safely evacuate the trapped workers. Authorities are also analyzing the tunnel’s structure to prevent further risks during the operation.
Earlier also in the year 2017, at least seven laborers had died and two were injured as the roof of an under-construction pump house tunnel of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project on river Godavari in Telangana collapsed. Then, the construction of the underground pump house was underway at Thippapuram village in Ellanthakunta Mandal of Rajana-Sircilla district. The roof of the pump house tunnel caved in, killing laborers from Jharkhand and Bihar.
The Telangana government had then reduced kharif crop production estimated for 2017-18 by 54% due to a long dry spell and drought-like conditions in some parts of the state. Such conditions are the reason why Telangana is investing heavily in irrigation and drinking water projects.
Then under-construction Kaleshwaram Project, where seven workers died when the roof of a tunnel partially collapsed two weeks ago, is claimed to be the lifeline of north Telangana. Then Irrigation Minister had said the project would transform the targeted 13 districts, which are often prone to drought-like conditions and water scarcity.
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