Rescue teams intensify work to reach last 50 metres of SLBC tunnel to unearth remaining bodies

Rescue teams intensify work to reach last 50 metres of SLBC tunnel to unearth remaining bodies

HYDERABAD

The multi-agency teams engaged in the rescue operation to trace the bodies of six more persons buried under the debris of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel since February 22 morning have intensified their work to reach the last 50 metres of the tunnel, where the bodies are expected to be trapped.

They have been able to unearth the bodies of only two persons so far – one on March 9 and another on March 25, belonging to a TBM technician and an engineer of the Jaypee Associates, the work agency, respectively. It’s been 50 days since eight persons engaged in the excavation of the SLBC tunnel with the help of a TBM were buried under the debris following the collapse of the tunnel roof.

GSI and NGRI scientists and those of the NCS have conducted multiple tests on the strata at the accident side both inside the tunnel, located about 400 metres beneath the surface of the hillock in the Nallamala Hill Range and also at the surface with modern gadgets, including ground probing radar scanning.

Officials of the Irrigation Department stated that scientists have concluded that the layers of soil and rock, particularly in a stretch of about a couple of hundred metres at the accident site, are highly unstable and abandonment of the excavation work for 2-3 years has led to accumulation of water between the layers.

The scientists were also understood to have recommended bypassing the accident site at least 100 metres on either side and excavating two smaller diameter tunnels linking them to the main tunnel course on either side since the tunnel excavation work was taken up from the two ends. From Srisailam reservoir end, it was dug up for 13.930 km and from Dindi Reservoir side, it was dug up for 20.430 km, leaving another 9.550 km to be excavated to complete the tunnel.