robotic technology has been deployed to aid the ongoing rescue operations at the SLBC tunnel near Domalapenta in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district, where eight workers remain trapped, said State Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday.
Calling the incident a national disaster, Reddy stressed that the state government is employing cutting-edge global technology to address the challenges posed by the last stretch of the 14-km-long tunnel.
During his visit to the site, he reviewed the rescue efforts along with senior officials, including State Disaster Management Secretary Arvind Kumar and Army Commandant Parikshit Mehra, who are supervising the mission.
Also present were District Collector Badavath Santosh, Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad Raghunath, Military Engineer Vikas Singh, NDRF Commandant Prasanna Kumar, SDRF Commandant Prabhakar, and representatives from Singareni, Railways, NGRI, and HYDRAA.
Addressing the media, the minister remarked that such a grave tunnel accident had never been witnessed in the country before.
He explained that while rescue teams have advanced up to 13.95 km inside the tunnel, the final 50 metres remain treacherous, owing to oxygen depletion, heavy water seepage, and debris from the collapsed Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).
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In light of these dangers, robots fitted with high-resolution cameras, infrared sensors, and mechanical arms have been deployed to assess conditions and assist in extraction.
Reddy further stated that trained cadaver dogs from Kerala had detected a strong odour at a specific location, suggesting the presence of three individuals. He assured that the government would extend full support to the families of the missing workers.
The minister also reviewed the ongoing dewatering and desilting measures, confirming that another assessment would be conducted on 11 March.
Despite the relentless efforts of 11 national-level rescue teams over the past fortnight, the retrieval of the trapped workers continues to pose a major challenge.
In response, the government is consulting tunnel construction and rescue experts from across the globe to determine the safest approach.
On Saturday, 525 personnel were engaged in the operation.
Reddy informed that while the Compressed Air System (CPS) is functional, the collapsed conveyor belt remains largely inoperative in the last 50-100 metres.
Amidst the difficulties, he reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the mission, with financial constraints not impeding the operation.
An immediate allocation of Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for robotic rescue systems, with officials directed to implement their use without delay.
Recognising the dedication of all officials, experts, and workers involved, the minister reiterated the government’s commitment to assisting the families of the trapped individuals.
He announced that he would return to the site in the coming days to assess the progress of the robotic intervention.
“The rescue operations will continue until every trapped worker is located and retrieved, with robotic technology playing a pivotal role in this mission,” he stated.
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