Rahul Gandhi calls up Revanth Reddy, enquires about SLBC tunnel accident

Hyderabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called up Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Sunday to enquire about the ongoing operations to rescue the workers trapped after a portion of the roof of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapsed.

The two leaders discussed the situation for about 20 minutes, party sources said.

The CM informed Gandhi that Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy had rushed to the scene immediately after reports were received about the accident at Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district on Saturday. He also explained that SDRF and NDRF teams had been deployed and that the injured were receiving medical treatment.

Gandhi appreciated the government's swift response and suggested that all possible efforts be made to rescue those still trapped inside the tunnel.

A state government spokesperson said relief operations are being carried out on a war footing. A 24-member army team has joined the mission, along with 130 NDRF personnel, a 24-member Hydra team, 24 Singareni Collieries Rescue Team members, and 120 SDRF personnel. However, rescue efforts are being hampered by landslides and water accumulation inside the tunnel.

The accident occurred at the 14th kilometer of the SLBC tunnel route when the a part of the roof collapsed on Saturday.