Rahul Gandhi expresses concern over tunnel roof collapse incident in Telangana

Hyderabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday expressed distress over eight people getting trapped in a tunnel after a part of it collapsed in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district and hoped for their safety.

In a post on X, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said he has been told that the state government along with rescue teams have been making all efforts to rescue the trapped people.

"I have been informed that rescue operations are underway, and the state government along with disaster relief teams are doing everything possible to expeditiously bring back those in danger," he said.

At least eight workers were feared trapped when a section of a roof collapsed in the under construction stretch of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana on Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred approximately 12-14 kilometers inside the tunnel, which had resumed construction just four days prior after a prolonged halt. Reports indicate that between six to eight workers are feared trapped as a result of the collapse.

Approximately three meters of the tunnel's roof collapsed near the Srisailam reservoir while workers were performing their daily tasks. The construction had resumed just four days prior. The collapse occurred at the 14-kilometer mark inside the tunnel, superintendent of police Vaibhav Gaikwad told reporters.

At the time of the incident, around 50 workers were present; 43 have been safely evacuated. Rescue operations are ongoing to reach the remaining individuals.

In response to the incident, Telangana chief minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed deep concern and directed the district collector, superintendent of police, fire services department, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and irrigation officials to promptly initiate relief measures. Following his directives, irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with other officials, departed for the accident site via a special helicopter to oversee rescue operations.

However, a press release from the chief minister's office, without putting a number, indicated that some persons suffered injuries.

Expressing concern over the accident, Union coal minister G. Kishan Reddy enquired about the reasons for it and asked officials to bring out those feared trapped to safety. He also told the officials to provide treatment to the injured (if any), a release from his office said.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation. Authorities are prioritising the rescue of the trapped workers and assessing safety protocols to prevent future incidents, police said.