Worker’s Body Found After 15 Days in SLBC Tunnel Collapse
After more than 15 days of intense rescue operations, the body of one of the eight missing workers trapped under debris in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel near Domalapenta village has been recovered. Officials confirmed that the remains were retrieved on Sunday evening.
Rescue teams discovered the body deep under the debris and are currently in the process of bringing it out for medical and legal procedures, including identification. This breakthrough was made possible with the help of rat miners from Uttarakhand, miners from Singareni Collieries, and excavators. A cadaver sniffer dog squad from Kerala played a crucial role in locating the body.
Meanwhile, rescue teams have intensified efforts at another location flagged by the sniffer dogs. Officials are hopeful that more bodies will be found soon. Their search is being guided by ground probing radar (GPR) scans conducted by the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).
A Risky and Challenging Operation
Sources from the Irrigation Department stated that fresh excavation work began on Sunday morning after a coordination meeting. However, the operation remains highly challenging due to the large amount of debris still blocking the last 50 to 70 meters of the tunnel. The presence of mud and broken parts of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) has made the rescue efforts even more difficult.
To assist in the rescue, technicians from South Central Railway (SCR) have been cutting the damaged TBM into smaller sections. So far, they have cleared over 60 meters of its total 132.5-meter length, creating some access for rescue teams to continue their search.
On Sunday, a third mini-excavator was deployed to speed up the work, focusing on two key locations identified by the sniffer dogs. However, the final stretch of the tunnel remains extremely dangerous, with deep mud and debris covering the buried head of the TBM. The slushy terrain poses a serious risk to the rescue workers, as they themselves could become trapped.
Despite these challenges, the rescue teams are determined to continue their efforts. Officials are closely monitoring the situation, hoping to recover the remaining trapped workers as soon as possible.
