After nearly two months of relentless efforts, the rescue operation at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel site has officially come to an end—without recovering the six workers who were trapped following the roof collapse on February 22.
The accident occurred deep inside the under-construction tunnel in Nagarkurnool district, where a section of the roof gave way, trapping six workers. Over the next 58 days, 12 specialised agencies from across the country, including disaster response teams, mining experts, and tunnel engineers, were mobilised in a massive rescue effort. High-end machinery and advanced techniques, including horizontal drilling and robotic cameras, were used to try to reach the trapped men.
Despite their best efforts, not a single trace of the six missing workers could be found. The conditions inside the tunnel—unstable terrain, narrow passages, risk of further collapse, and continuous water seepage—made the mission extremely dangerous and complicated.
“This is one of the most difficult rescue operations we’ve seen in decades,” said an official involved in the operation. “We gave it everything, but the nature of the collapse and the geography of the tunnel posed challenges beyond imagination.”
The families of the missing men have been inconsolable. Many had stayed at the site, clinging to hope and praying for a miracle. The government’s announcement ending the operation has left them devastated and demanding clarity and compensation.
The Telangana government has assured financial aid, a thorough investigation, and a review of safety practices in all ongoing tunnel works. Questions are now being raised about whether proper safety protocols were followed and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
As the dust settles on the rescue site, what remains is a haunting emptiness—a painful reminder of the six lives lost, and the families who still wait without closure.
