Day 7: South Central Railway Joins in Rescue Operations
Rescue Operation Continues in Telangana Tunnel Collapse
South Central Railway has joined the rescue teams in Nagarkurnool, Telangana, who are working tirelessly to locate the eight individuals trapped in the partially collapsed SLBC tunnel for the past six days. The railway brings expertise in cutting heavy metals using equipment such as plasma cutters and Brocho cutting machines, according to SCR Chief Public Relations Officer A Sridhar.
Railway Expertise in Rescue Operations
District Collector of Nagar Kurnool sought the assistance of South Central Railway to clear iron and steel debris that have been impeding the rescue efforts at the site. The SCR promptly responded by deploying two teams of metal cutting experts to aid in the mission. The first batch, led by S Murali, Divisional Mechanical Engineer, along with a senior Section Engineer, 13 Welders, and two technicians from Secunderabad, have already begun the necessary work. A second team of experts also joined to support the initial group in their efforts.
Continuous Rescue Efforts
Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad reported that the metal cutting and debris clearing process is ongoing. Teams have been working tirelessly, with one group entering the tunnel at 7 AM to continue clearing debris and dewatering the area.
Government Support in Rescue Operations
Telangana irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy assured that rescue and relief operations are in full swing and will be completed within two days. The Minister announced plans to cut the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that is stuck inside the tunnel into pieces using gas cutters and remove it. Following this, the Army, Navy, Rat Miners, and NDRF teams will intensify efforts to rescue the missing individuals, prioritizing their safety.
Identification of Trapped Individuals
The eight individuals trapped in the collapsed tunnel have been identified as Manoj Kumar (UP), Sri Niwas (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab), and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahau, all from Jharkhand. Among them, two are engineers, two are operators, and the remaining four are laborers employed by Jaiprakash Associates, the contracting firm for the SLBC tunnel project.
The rescue operation in Nagarkurnool continues to be a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies and experts, determined to safely locate and rescue the trapped individuals.