SLBC tunnel collapse: KT Rama Rao demands probe by sitting HC judge

Says Congress government restarting the tunnel project without technical studies or GSI approval endangered lives

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has demanded for a judicial probe led by a sitting High Court judge into the SLBC tunnel accident. He charged the Congress government with gross negligence for reportedly initiating the tunnel construction without obtaining necessary approvals from the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

In a statement, Rama Rao criticised the State government for its shocking display of incompetence and inexperience. He questioned the Chief Minister’s absence from relief operations, while eight workers remain trapped. “Does the Chief Minister have no time to ensure the rescue of these workers, while he flies around in helicopters for campaigns?” he asked.

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He stated that three major mishaps occurred within 14 months of the Congress rule, causing losses worth hundreds of crores of rupees. He cited the complete washout of the Peddavagu project in Khammam and the collapse of the Sunkishala project retaining wall, followed by the SLBC tunnel collapse.

Referring to the SLBC tunnel collapse, where workers have remained trapped for over 72 hours, the BRS working president expressed deep concern over the slow pace of rescue operations. He charged the government with recklessness, stating that restarting the tunnel project without technical studies or GSI approval directly endangered lives and public money. “If you did not conduct any technical study before resuming the works and carelessly put lives and public funds at risk, you have no one to blame but yourselves,” he said.

Lashing out at Ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Rama Rao remarked that while one was shamelessly singing praises of his work, the other remained clueless despite the crisis. “After four days of work at SLBC, all they have to show is eight missing workers, debris, slush, and a Rs 300 crore damage to machinery. It is appalling that they feel proud of such a failure,” he added.

Demanding a comprehensive judicial inquiry, he emphasised the need for the Congress government to reveal the truth behind the SLBC accident and the Sunkishala wall collapse. “The lives lost and families affected deserve truth and accountability. The Congress government must ensure transparency and justice, which is grossly missing so far,” he asserted.