Progress on the construction of a 27-mile irrigation tunnel, slated to be one of the world’s longest upon completion, has faced multiple delays since its inception in 2005. The recent collapse has left workers trapped, sparking a desperate rescue effort.
Rescuers toiled on Tuesday to clear a train track within the tunnel, facilitating the transportation of necessary equipment to pump water from the site. Simultaneously, efforts were made to create a path for earthmoving machinery to access the tunnel’s interior. “As of now, we are in the process of dewatering and advancing. However, we are encountering difficulties in the final stretch of 40 to 50 meters,” revealed B Santhosh, the administrative head of Nagarkurnool district, where the tunnel is located, in an update to India’s PTI news agency.
A team of skilled “rat miners”, who had previously rescued 41 workers trapped in a Himalayan highway tunnel for 17 days in 2023, has joined the ongoing rescue mission. Officials disclosed that around 20 miles of the new tunnel had been excavated, leaving roughly seven miles remaining as of the latest update on Tuesday.
Addressing the media near the collapse site, a state minister overseeing the rescue efforts expressed pessimism about the chances of finding the eight trapped men alive. “To be frank, the likelihood of their survival is exceedingly slim,” remarked Jupally Krishna Rao, a senior official in the Telangana state administration. “I ventured close to the end, just 50 meters shy of the collapse site… When we called out their names, there was no response.”
Rao acknowledged the grim reality, stating, “I cannot confidently predict their survival prospects, but the outlook appears bleak. Nevertheless, even the faintest glimmer of hope will be pursued valiantly.”
In other news, updates on the health of Pope Francis following complications from a lung infection and kidney failure have been released by the Vatican. Additionally, Elon Musk has reiterated claims from an email attributed to federal employees, with support from former President Trump.
