SLBC Tunnel Mishap: Rathole miners reach critical end point of tunnel, but find no trace of missing workers
Skilled rathole miners courageously entered the tunnel in an effort to rescue the eight trapped workers. They managed to reach the tunnel's zero point but found no sign of the missing workers or engineers. The entire passage, obstructed by debris and waterlogging, was filled with a foul odor, suggesting a potentially grim outcome.
Hyderabad: The rescue operation at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel has reached the critical end point of the tunnel, but there is no trace of the missing workers.
Expert rathole miners bravely ventured into the tunnel to save the eight trapped workers. They could access the zero point of the tunnel end but could find none of the eight missing workers and engineers. The entire stretch, whose passage is blocked by debris and water-logging, is filled with a foul smell, indicating an adverse and undesired outcome that is in the offing.
Experts involved in the rescue operation suspect that the workers might be trapped beneath the damaged tunnel boring machine (TBM). The rat miners, who succeeded where all other big names with expertise in such rescue missions failed, are barely 25 years old. The 14-member team of rat miners from Uttarakhand, led by Firoz Qureshi, displayed rare skill.
Early Wednesday morning, they entered the SLBC tunnel, equipped with only ropes tied to their backs. Clad in simple t-shirts and pants, the team navigated through the critical environment and reached the site of the collapsed 1600- ton TBM
The rat miners cleared the debris, creating a pathway for other rescue teams to follow. Using only small and simple tools, they removed the accumulated mud and water, pushing aside obstacles. They reached the last point of the tunnel and confirmed that the TBM was completely destroyed. They also identified the source of water flow from the tunnel lining and removed the TBM fragments, making the rescue operation more manageable.
