SLBC tunnel collapse: Telangana Minister says ‘only a miracle’ can save trapped workers

"I personally visited the site, and in my view, there is absolutely no chance of survival. This is my expectation and opinion, though technical experts may have a different assessment," Jupally Krishna Rao stated at a press conference in Gandhi Bhavan on Friday.

Hyderabad: As the operations to rescue the eight persons trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) are under progress, Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said only a miracle could save the workers.

“I have personally visited the spot and as far as I know, 100 percent there is no chance. It is my expectation and opinion, technical experts might have other opinions,” Jupally Krishna Rao said at a press conference in Gandhi Bhavan here on Friday.

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The rescue operations would be continued for another two days. The company, which was executing the tunnel works, was alert. Had the company representatives did not sense trouble early and alert the workers, nearly 40 persons would have died in the incident, he said.

The Minister represents Kollapur constituency from Nagarkurnool district under which the SLBC tunnel collapsed on February 22.

After having monitored the rescue operations for a few days, the Minister arrived in the city. Newly appointed AICC Telangana incharge Meenakshi Natarajan arrived in the city this morning to hold a meeting with party leaders in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Minister slammed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accusing it of politicising the SLBC incident. He said the BRS was trying to derive political mileage by raking up a controversy from a natural calamity.

“Why did the BRS government keep the SLBC project pending for 10 years. Why did the BRS government dig up 200 meters in the tunnel and leave the works midway,” Jupally Krishna Rao asked.

The Minister maintained that the BRS does not have moral right to question the Congress government on the SLBC mishap.