KTR slams Congress, BJP governments over SLBC tunnel tragedy negligence

BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao lashed out at both the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP-led Centre over the SLBC tunnel collapse that killed eight workers. He accused both parties of negligence and promised justice to victims’ families if BRS returns to power.

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao has come down heavily on both the Congress government in the State and the BJP-led government at the Centre for their negligence and inaction following the collapse of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, which claimed the lives of eight workers.

Rama Rao on Sunday pointed out that the bodies of six of the eight workers who died in the tragedy were not traced even 200 days after the incident. In a strongly worded statement, he said the Congress government had failed to ensure justice to the families of the victims. It did not provide compensation to the affected families, he said, questioning the Centre’s silence on the issue.

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Rama Rao highlighted that the Congress government which could not retrieve the bodies of six workers even after these many days, had left the families of the victims in distress without extending any financial or emotional support. He described the State government’s response as “gross negligence” and a failure of responsibility.

Taking aim at the BJP-led central government, he questioned why no investigation team, such as the National Dam Safety Authority, was dispatched to probe the SLBC tunnel collapse, despite their prompt response to minor issues in the Kaleshwaram project. He alleged a “collusive relationship” between the BJP and Congress, stating, “Why does the BJP’s ‘Bade Bhai’ always protect the Congress’ ‘Chhote Bhai’ in Telangana? What is this unholy alliance?”

Rama Rao vowed that the BRS would ensure justice for the six affected families once it was back in power and hold those responsible for the tragedy accountable.

“We will ensure that those who were responsible for the loss of these eight lives face punishment. The BRS will uncover the reasons behind the SLBC tunnel collapse and address every instance of destruction caused by the Congress government,” he declared, terming it a “BRS promise”.