Sun Mar 02 16:15:19 UTC 2025: ## Telangana Tunnel Collapse Traps Eight; Rescue Efforts Underway
**Hyderabad, March 2, 2025** – Eight people remain trapped in a collapsed tunnel at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project in Telangana, India. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy stated that locating the trapped individuals will take another two to three days due to significant amounts of mud and debris. The exact location of the trapped workers is still uncertain, even for rescue agencies, and the Chief Minister cautioned against speculation on their condition until they are located.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scans have identified potential locations, but these proved inaccurate in some instances. The Chief Minister assured the families of the missing workers of full government support. He criticized the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government for alleged negligence in the project, claiming their inaction over ten years led to the accident. The accumulated water, he said, burst forth when work resumed recently after the Congress government cleared outstanding bills and addressed technical issues. Approximately 9.5 km of tunnel excavation remains incomplete in the world’s longest irrigation tunnel.
Mr. Reddy stated that the Congress government, unlike its predecessor, has allowed all political parties access to the accident site. He suggested using robots in rescue efforts to minimize risk to rescuers. The investigation continues.
First Piper 