"slbc-tunnel"

The NGRI has submitted a detailed survey report on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel to Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy. The report highlights stress zones, seepage patterns, and factors behind the February 2025 roof collapse.

The Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel project beneath the Amrabad Tiger Reserve faces uncertainty as the Forest Department has not been informed about the new tunnelling technology proposed by the State government. Following a February mishap that killed eight workers, tunnelling was suspended and an aerial electromagnetic survey was launched to study geological conditions.

The SLBC tunnel project, originally estimated at Rs 1,925 crore in 2007, has already risen to Rs 4,637 crore and faces further escalation as the government abandons tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for drill-and-blast methods. The government has enlisted the Army, Air Force, and BRO to fast-track the critical 9-km inlet stretch.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has set a firm deadline of December 9, 2027, for the completion of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) works, emphasizing that no delays will be tolerated. He directed officials to ensure the completion of the remaining tunnel and instructed JP Associates to expedite the work with the necessary equipment.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, while speaking at the YSR Memorial Award function, revealed that some individuals were attempting to gain influence by offering support under the pretext of loyalty. Drawing parallels with the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s era, he said true loyalty like that of K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao was rare.

Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy blamed KCR’s alleged black magic for the SLBC tunnel failure, while also accusing massive corruption in BRS-era projects like Kaleshwaram and claiming improving state finances

This project, initially conceived in 1983, is designed in such a way that the tunnel would have no intermediate access

The meeting resolved to hold detailed discussions with the committee members within a week to work out a strategy for resuming the pending works

Harish Rao called for a thorough investigation into the incident and the reported lapses in the rescue operations. Holding the Revanth Reddy-led government responsible, he said eight workers remain trapped inside the tunnel due to the administration’s negligence. “This government's carelessness has thrown the lives of eight innocent individuals into uncertainty and left their families in deep anguish,” he stated.

The extension work was executed on a war footing, deemed crucial for accessing the debris-covered section. After a successful trial run, the conveyor belt was made operational in the early hours of Friday.

The conveyor belt was being restored from 13,630 metres to 16,730 metres inside the tunnel. Suggestions from experts were being taken to effectively take up the rescue operations.

A coordinated effort involving 12 rescue teams from the Central and State governments is underway, ensuring the availability of essential resources for the teams involved.

This location was found after the removal of layers of debris around the area where the locomotive train got buried under the collapsed roof of the tunnel.

Efforts to deploy robots for rescue operations are in progress. Nine days ago, officials deployed an automated sludge removal robot into the tunnel, and support staff deployed in the tunnel could install a vacuum tanker as part of the efforts. But the network and technical issues continued to hamper the effective use of robotic technology.

Twenty eight days after the collapse of the SLBC tunnel, rescue operations are inching ahead with seven more bodies to be retrieved. Robots that were requisitioned to salvage the bodies have not yet been made fully operational

Deployed by Hyderabad-based Anvi Robotics, the autonomous hydraulic-powered robot will be used to remove debris, excavate soil within the tunnel, say officials

The operations at the accident site have drawn more attention in the day, with over 110 personnel from different agencies along with the new addition of a technical team from the Hyderabad-based ANVI Robotics deployed in the first shift. These robots are equipped with high resolution cameras, infrared sensors, and robotic arms, enabling the team's participating rescue mission.

Rescue teams discovered traces of human remains in the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel

Nagarkurnool district Collector sought the help of South Central Railway (SCR) to help in the rescue operation by clearing the debris of steel and iron, which has been hindering the rescue works at the site

Mystery shrouds the fate of eight missing workers and engineers even as rescue teams, which includes some 130 members from NDRF, take stock of the situation