The rescue operations at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) at Domalapenta are now foucssion on removing the crashed tunnel boring machine and pumping out water to make a way to reach the accident spot, according to Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy.
``There is water and mud on a stretch of 200 metres in the tunnel and efforts are pump them out. The gas-cutters are being used to remove the boring machine in parts,’‘ the Minister said on Wednesday. All efforts were being made to save the eight workers trapped in the tunnel and operation is likely to completed in next two days, he added.
The teams stepped up efforts on Wednesday, the fifth day of operations, to clear mud and water along a 15-metre stretch, which has prevented them from reaching the accident spot at the 14-km point in the 44-km-long tunnel, according to officials.
Gas cutters have been deployed to remove the crashed bore drilling machine in the tunnel, and efforts are on to restore the conveyor belt to take machinery, including big motors, to pump out the water.
- Also read: SLBC Tunnel mishap: Rescue teams face new hurdles to reach accident spot to save 8 workers
Eleven rescue teams, including those from the Indian Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni Collieries, Police and Fire services have been working round the clock for the last five days to save the trapped workers.
The tunnel roof collapsed at the 14-km point in the 43.93-km-long canal on Saturday morning due to water leakage, trapping the workers inside. Of 50 workers present in the tunnel at the time of the mishap, 42, including 13 who sustained injuries, rushed out, while eight were trapped.