Sat Mar 15 09:47:55 UTC 2025: ## Rescue Operation Intensifies at Collapsed Tunnel in India
**HYDERABAD, INDIA – March 15, 2025** – Rescue efforts are intensifying at the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana, India. Twenty-two days after a portion of the tunnel collapsed, trapping seven workers, authorities have divided the 14-kilometer-long site into three sections to expedite the search and recovery operation.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), Singareni Collieries, and Rat Miners from Uttarakhand are working in a coordinated effort. Heavy machinery, including five mini-excavators and loco-trolleys, is being used to remove debris. Human Remains Detection Dogs (HRDDs) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) are also being deployed to locate the missing workers. Initial findings from a National Centre of Seismology survey are expected next week.
The rescue operation is focusing on three key areas within the remaining section of the tunnel. The area closest to the tunnel entrance is being cleared of slush and metal by SDRF and HYDRAA personnel. A second section is being tackled by SDRF teams. The final section, where human remains have been detected, is being carefully excavated by miners using a chain-link method to ensure efficient debris removal. The recovered materials are being transported out of the tunnel using loco-trolleys.
The operation continues amidst challenging conditions. The rescue effort is a complex undertaking, demanding a coordinated strategy and substantial resources. Officials remain hopeful of locating the missing workers.
First Piper 