Telangana deploys robots in tunnel rescue mission to locate seven trapped workers

The Telangana government has deployed robotic technology to assist in the ongoing search operation for seven individuals trapped inside the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel since February 22. The move aims to mitigate risks for rescue personnel navigating the hazardous conditions inside the tunnel.

A Hyderabad-based robotics company, along with its expert team, entered the tunnel on Tuesday morning, deploying a robot to aid in the search efforts. Simultaneously, 110 rescue personnel also entered the tunnel to continue manual operations.

State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced on March 8 that the government would invest ₹4 crore in leveraging robotic technology for the operation. The decision followed concerns about the safety of rescue teams working in conditions filled with water, slush, and debris from a collapsed Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who visited the site on March 2, had directed officials to consider deploying robots to prevent further casualties among rescue teams.

The rescue mission involves personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Singareni Collieries, and specialized rat miners. Their operations are being guided by data from cadaver dogs and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys conducted by the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad.

Human Remains Detection Dogs (HRDD) from the Kerala Police have also been brought in to aid in the search. On March 9, rescue personnel recovered the body of Gurpreet Singh, a TBM operator working for a foreign company contracted for the tunnel project. His remains were sent to his native Punjab, and the Telangana government has extended an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh to his family.

Apart from Gurpreet Singh, the seven other trapped workers have been identified as Manoj Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Sunny Singh (Jammu & Kashmir), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab), and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.

The SLBC project tunnel collapse has raised concerns about safety protocols in large-scale infrastructure projects. Rescue operations continue, with hopes that advanced technology and coordinated efforts will help locate the remaining trapped individuals.