Telangana deploys robots for SLBC tunnel rescue: Minister Reddy

NEW DELHI: Telangana minister for irrigation and civil supplies Uttam Kumar Reddy announced on Saturday that robotic technology is being used to speed up the rescue operations at the SLBC tunnel in Nagarkurnool district, where eight workers remain trapped.
Calling the incident a "national disaster," he assured that the state government is using the best global technology to address the challenges in the final stretch of the 14-kilometre tunnel.
During his visit to the site, the minister reviewed the situation with officials from multiple national agencies, including state disaster management secretary Arvind Kumar and army commandant Parikshit Mehra. District collector Badavath Santosh, SP Vaibhav Gaikwad Raghunath,and senior officials from the NDRF, SDRF, Railways, and Singareni were also present.
Reddy explained that rescue teams have managed to clear 13.95 kilometres of the tunnel, but the last 50 meters remain highly unstable due to oxygen depletion, water seepage, and metal debris from the collapsed Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). To navigate these hazards, robots equipped with high-resolution cameras, infrared sensors, and robotic arms have been deployed for assessment and extraction.
As per the minister, cadaver dogs from Kerala detected a strong odour at a specific location, suggesting the presence of three individuals. He assured that the government would fully support the families of the missing workers. Despite ongoing dewatering and desilting efforts, the final stretch remains a significant challenge, with global tunnel rescue experts being consulted to find a solution.
The BJP criticised the Telangana government’s response, accusing it of negligence. BJP leader and Union minister G Kishan Reddy alleged that the state authorities failed to conduct proper safety inspections before the tunnel work began. "This tragedy is a result of the state government's inefficiency. Why were safety measures ignored? Why was there no proper emergency plan?" he questioned.
BJP MLA Etala Rajender also hit out at the Congress-led Telangana government, stating that despite repeated warnings from experts, the administration did not act in time. "This is a man-made disaster. The government should take responsibility," he said.
Meanwhile, the opposition has demanded a judicial inquiry into the accident. "Deploying robots now is fine, but this should have been done much earlier. The government wasted crucial time," said BJP spokesperson K Krishna Sagar Rao.
As rescue efforts continue, Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated that all necessary resources, including an additional Rs 4 crore for robotic systems, have been allocated to ensure the operation's success. He promised to return to the site in the next few days to assess the progress.