Tunnel collapse at SLBC due to sudden flood and roof caving in

In a tragic incident on Saturday, a portion of the Srisailam left bank canal project tunnel near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district collapsed, trapping eight workers. The incident occurred around 8.30 am, with around 50 workers, including engineers from Jaiprakash Associates and Robbins, a US-based firm, inside.

The company building the tunnel is Amberg Group, a Swiss family-owned engineering and surveying firm specializing in underground infrastructure construction. Among the missing persons in the catastrophe is Valerie, a 36-year-old woman from Lauben in Unterallgäu, who has been missing for three weeks. The identities of the other missing workers have been confirmed: Manoj Kumar (project engineer), Niwas, Sandeep Sahu, Jagta Xess, Santosh Sahu, Anuj Sahu, Sunny Singh, and Gurpreet Singh.

The rescue efforts are the government's first priority. Singareni Collieries Company Limited has rushed a 19-member rescue team to Domalapenta. The state disaster response and fire services chief and personnel are at the site to assist in the rescue efforts. National Disaster Relief Force teams have also been deployed for rescue efforts.

To ensure the supply of fresh air, a huge vent powered by giant fans located at the entrance of the tunnel pumps air round the clock into the tunnel. However, it was not immediately known if the vent pipes were also impacted in the collapse. There were initial fears that the blocked section may get flooded with water, but Uttam Kumar Reddy, the irrigation minister, expressed hope that the eight workers would be safe, stating that there should be no problem with ventilation.

Seepage of water is a normal occurrence in the Srisailam left bank canal project tunnel work. To manage this, dewatering is a constant process and is part of the work. Special teams to offer health support and ambulances have been stationed near the worksite.

The Geological Survey of India inspected the tunnel work and gave the go-ahead to restart it just two months ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all help for the rescue efforts. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy issued instructions for speedy rescue efforts, and irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and tourism minister Jupally Krishna Rao visited the site. Glen Mynard from Robbins, a US-based firm involved in the project, also addressed the media and confirmed that eight people were trapped behind the collapsed section of the tunnel.

The Srisailam left bank canal project is a significant infrastructure project in the region. Work on the inlet end tunnel section had resumed just four days ago after a nearly year-long break for repairs to the tunneling machine. The incident is under investigation, and updates on the rescue efforts will be provided as more information becomes available.