Members of National Disaster Response Force team carry their equipment during a rescue operation outside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel after a portion of the tunnel collapsed, in Nagarkurnool district in Telangana.https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/vtm3v6/article69260699.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/2025-02-24T131641Z_1717055968_RC211DALQDPR_RTRMADP_3_INDIA-TUNNEL-COLLAPSE.JPG

Members of National Disaster Response Force team carry their equipment during a rescue operation outside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel after a portion of the tunnel collapsed, in Nagarkurnool district in Telangana. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

A team of expert rat miners, known for their successful rescue operation in Uttarkashi’s Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel collapse last year, has arrived at Domalapenta in the district on Tuesday (February 24, 2025) to assist in the ongoing efforts at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse site.

Also Read | Telangana tunnel collapse highlights- Feb 24

Rat-hole mining, a method of extracting coal through small pits, was banned in 2014 for being unscientific. However, when advanced machinery failed to rescue workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarkashi for 16 days, expert manual miners, known as rat miners, were called in. Using hand tools, they successfully reached the stranded workers and facilitated their escape.

The collapse, which occurred on February 22, trapped eight workers, including two engineers and two technicians.

 

 

  • February 25, 2025 10:42
    Taking the advice of GSI and others for next steps: Nagarkurnool District Collector

    Nagarkurnool District Collector B. Santhosh on Tuesday (February 25, 2025) said before taking any step forward stability of the tunnel has been taken into consideration even as dewatering is going on.

    “As of now, we are not able to communicate with them (trapped). We are taking the advice of the Geological Survey of India and some other people. As of now we are dewatering and going forward. But for the last 40 or 50 meters we are not able to go. As of now, we are taking the advice of GSI and NGRI. L&T experts have also come here,” the collector told PTI.

  • February 25, 2025 10:38
    Experts from GSI, NGRI roped in to assess situation

    The Telangana government has roped in experts from GSI and NGRI to suggest the way forward regarding the rescue operations in the SLBC tunnel.

    As the eight remain trapped for the fourth day, experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Geographical Research Institute (NGRI) have been included in the rescue efforts, an official said on Tuesday, February 25, 2025,