Telangana tunnel rescue day 10 | SCR team cuts through TBM’s collapsed platform accelerating debris removal

The damaged platform of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that has been cut to expedite debris removal at the collapsed portion of Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Domalapenta, Nagarkurnool district.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In a major breakthrough, the South Central Railway’s (SCR) mechanical engineering team has managed to cut the platform of the damaged Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) deep inside the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel late on Sunday (March 2, 2025) night facilitating faster removal of metal debris.

The three ultra thermic cutters commissioned by SCR has accelerated the metal cutting work and the platform of the TBM has been cut. “The metal debris is being removed on a war footing basis. The efforts to trace the trapped bodies of eight personnel is going on in full swing,” a top Government official said on Monday (March 3, 2025).

Latest updates on rescue work at Telangana SLBC tunnel day 10 (March 3, 2025)

The damaged platform of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that has been cut to expedite debris removal at SLBC tunnel collapse site in Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

It’s been 10 days since a portion of the SLBC tunnel collapsed leaving eight persons working inside trapped without any trace of their whereabouts.

“Once the site is cleared, smaller machines, such as bobcat and small excavator would be pressed into service which can go up to the tail end of the TBM and this would facilitate faster removal of silt,” the top official overseeing the rescue operation told The Hindu. Following the visit of the Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy along with top ministerial team on Sunday, where he reviewed the rescue efforts, work has been expedited.

SCR mechanical engineering team along with SCCL, NDRF, SDRF rescue team conducting rescue operations at SLBC collapsed tunnel.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Conveyor belt to be restored latest by Tuesday

It was pointed out that the conveyor belt would be put into operation latest by Tuesday morning. As of now, the main rescue team comprises 80 personnel of the Singareni Collieries Company Limited, 20 from NDRF, SDRF and the railways. One unit of the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) is stationed for conducting tests with the help of Ground Probing Radar (GPR) unit as and when the need arises.

Possibililty of smaller tunnels to be discussed

Sources said Colonel Parikshit Mehra of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) along with an engineering team of irrigation department and the representatives of the executing agency, as well as the NGRI, would meet to find a medium/long term solution by exploring the possibility of two smaller diameter tunnels duly avoiding the vulnerable portion of the damaged tunnel.

Accumulated silt and metal debris being cleared from the collapsed SLBC tunnel in Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool on 11th day of rescue operation to trace eight missing personnel.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

NCS team to join

In a fillip to the rescue operation, a team from National Centre of Seismology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences would arrive at SLBC site in Domalapenta of Nagarkurnool district along with their equipment on Tuesday (March 4, 2025).

It may be mentioned here that the Telangana’s Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management) Arvind Kumar in a letter to the Ministry of Earth Sciences last week had mentioned that a portion of the ongoing construction of SLBC tunnel works collapsed at 13.9 kms from the starting point for a portion of about 200 metres, which left eight workers trapped inside.

The Government had urged that a team from the NCS to conduct a seismological study to assess the volume of cracks and the extent of water saturation of the affected area.