SLBC tunnel rescue teams working to extent conveyor belt by 100 meters

Metal scrap being brought out of the SLBC tunnel near Domalapenta of Nagarkurnool district.

HYDERABAD

Personnel of the multi-agency rescue teams engaged in tracing the mortal remains of the remaining six persons buried under the debris in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse, which occurred on February 22 morning, are working to restore the conveyor belt for another 100 metres–from 13,630 metres to 13,730 metres on the 38^th day of the rescue efforts on Monday.

The Special Officer appointed by the government to oversee the operations, Siva Sankar Lotheti, held a coordination meeting at the tunnel site with the team leaders of different rescue agencies on Monday and stated that the extension of the conveyor belt for another 100 metres would help speed up shifting of the debris being excavated by the mini-excavators towards the tunnel-end (end-rock).

He reviewed the progress of the debris removal as part of tracing the remains of the six persons still buried under the debris. Representatives of the Army, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Hydraa, Singareni Collieries, South Central Railway and others were present. Mr. Lotheti said the rescue teams were working round-the-clock despite the adverse conditions inside the tunnel.

The metal parts of the damaged tunnel boring machine (TBM) were being cut up by SCR technicians and they were being shifted out of the tunnel with the help of the locomotive. The soil and other debris, excluding boulders, was being shifted out of the tunnel with the help of a conveyor belt. Dewatering process with multi-stage pumping system to keep the tunnel in a working condition for the rescue teams was also in progress round-the-clock, the special officer said.

Mr. Lotheti complimented the rescue personnel for continuing the rescue work despite the two main festivals. Lighting inside the tunnel towards the end was also being improved as and when required to keep the pace of digging work and debris removal.

Vikas Singh from the Army, Vijay Kumar from the NDRF, Giridhar Reddy from the SDRF, Sudarshan Reddy from Hydraa, Nethi Chandra from the SCR, officials from Singareni, Jaypee Associates (contract agency of the tunnel), officials of Nagarkurnool district participated in the review meeting.