Race against time to save eight Indian workers trapped inside tunnel

Rescuers in Telangana, southern India, are racing against time to rescue eight construction workers trapped in a tunnel for over 72 hours. The incident occurred in the Nagarkurnool district when a portion of the 43-kilometer-long tunnel collapsed early Saturday morning while approximately 50 workers were inside.

According to official sources, 43 workers successfully escaped, but efforts to rescue the remaining eight have been repeatedly hampered by loose soil, mud, and silt within the tunnel. Rescuers have also been unable to establish contact with those trapped, preventing them from providing oxygen and other necessities. State Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, who is overseeing the rescue operations, told the Press Trust of India that "hopes of their survival are very slim."

On Monday, a team of expert "rat-hole miners" arrived at the scene to clear debris and reach the trapped workers. "Rat-hole miners" are professionals trained in navigating narrow tunnels. This team successfully rescued 41 construction workers trapped in a tunnel due to a landslide in Uttarakhand in the Himalayan region in 2023. As of Tuesday, approximately 33 kilometers of excavation work has been completed, with about 10 kilometers remaining.

Rescuers are using a train to reach a certain point, after which they need to climb onto conveyor belts to remove debris. Reports indicate that they are also continuously pumping water to ensure oxygen supply within the tunnel. However, the rugged terrain of the area is slowing down the rescue progress. As the rescue efforts continue, the families of the trapped workers—most of whom are daily wage laborers—are anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.

The construction project had resumed just four days before the accident after being suspended for nearly three years. The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 AM local time (03:00 GMT) on Saturday when a section of the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) collapsed about 13 kilometers from the entrance. The accident was caused by a sliding concrete slab covering the roof that had sprung a leak. At least a dozen workers were injured in the chaos. Multiple rescue teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, firefighters, and soldiers from the Indian Army, have arrived at the site and are fully engaged in rescue operations.

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC Telugu channel that a team of firefighters were the first to enter the tunnel on Sunday. "We travelled 11km by train, 2km by conveyor belt and the rest of the way on foot," the official said. "But then we encountered an obstacle. There were high mounds of mud and loose soil. The drilling machines used by the workers were upside down, blocking all access to the rear." Rescuers said they were forced to turn back from there because they did not have the necessary tools and machinery to clear the silt.

"We shouted loudly, blew whistles, and shone torches in the hope of getting a response, but we heard nothing." Some relatives of those trapped are now desperately hoping for a miracle. Rampratap Sahu, the father of one of the workers, said: "When I left home, my wife hugged me and cried, saying, don't come back empty-handed. Bring my son back." "But what can I do? I can only sit here and pray to God to give me back my son. I don't want anything else."