In brief
The situation remains dire for eight workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Telangana, India, as local officials express concerns over their chances of survival following a sudden influx of silt and water.
Eight workers remain trapped in a collapsed tunnel in the Indian state of Telangana, with rescuers facing increasing challenges in their search. The collapse occurred after water and silt rushed in, causing the ceiling to cave in while the workers were approximately nine miles inside the structure. It is part of the long-running Srisailam Left Bank Canal project, aimed at building one of the world’s largest irrigation tunnels, with construction delays since 2005.The accident happened during the weekend, and while some workers managed to escape, eight others found themselves blocked by a tunnel-boring machine at the site. "Water gushed in and the roof caved in," stated Manoj Gaur, chairman of Jaiprakash Associates, the construction firm involved in the project. The large size of the tunnel, with a diameter exceeding 10 meters, has made the rescue operation even more challenging.Communication with the trapped workers has been lost since the incident, raising concerns about their safety. Local authorities have mobilized nine agencies, including the Indian Army and Marine Commandos, to assist in the rescue efforts. Their experience is underscored by a previous successful operation in Uttarakhand, where 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days in 2023. Activists and environmentalists had previously warned that the ongoing road-widening project could destabilize the region, which some believe may have contributed to the tunnel collapse. Jupally Krishna Rao, a state minister overseeing the rescue efforts, indicated that while the odds of survival are diminishing, all measures would be taken to locate and save the workers. As of Monday morning, rescuers had reached the tunnel-boring machine that blocked the area, but significant debris and silt accumulation—reportedly as high as six to seven feet in certain sections—continue to impede their progress.Efforts are ongoing in the hopes of bringing the trapped workers to safety.
