Telangana tunnel collapse: Authorities exploring deployment of robos

Ten days after the partial collapse of the SLBC project tunnel that left eight persons trapped, the Telangana government is exploring the option of deploying robos in the rescue operation to prevent any threat to the rescue personnel, officials said on Monday.

Large quantities of slush and water inside the tunnel posed a challenge to the teams involved in the rescue operation.

Eight persons -- engineers and labourers -- have been trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project tunnel since February 22 and experts from the NDRF, Indian Army, Navy and other agencies are making relentless efforts to pull them out to safety.

Nagarkurnool Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad said the possibility of involving robos in the ongoing rescue efforts is being considered as safety of the rescuers is important.

"We are exploring all possibilities, whatever are the best equipment, best manpower, the experts (involved in such rescue activities). We are roping in all of them. (Using) robos came up during discussions yesterday. We are exploring that option also," he told PTI. The robos can be useful in such conditions, he said.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who visited the tunnel on Sunday, suggested to officials leading the rescue operation to use robos inside the tunnel, if necessary, to avoid any danger to the rescue personnel.

Gaikwad said the rescue work is going on in full swing, including dewatering and removal of silt.

On the tunnel boring machine which was stuck in the muck, the police official said the machine is being cut to create way to go ahead.