On February 22, a section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel in Telangana collapsed, trapping eight workers.
The collapse was triggered by water seepage, which caused the roof to cave in over an eight-meter stretch.
Nine specialized rescue teams are working tirelessly, but progress has been slow in rescuing the workers and assessing their condition.
The rescue efforts are based on methods used during the Silkyara Tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi in 2023, where workers were trapped for 16 days.
Unlike Silkyara, the Srisailam collapse involves a large amount of water, which is hindering rescue operations.
Of the 70 workers inside, 62 escaped, but 13 were injured, and eight remain trapped.
Tunnel disasters are rare but can be catastrophic, often caused by ruptured underground water channels (aquifers).
Proper analysis of the site's geology is critical before tunneling to prevent such accidents.
Authorities must investigate the cause of the collapse, focusing on the adequacy of pre-tunneling safety checks and geological studies.
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