NGRI zeroes in on ‘anomalies’ in tunnel as search for workers continues | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: In a breakthrough in efforts to locate eight missing workers trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel after a roof collapse, scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) have identified eight locations exhibiting ‘anomalies’ in the tunnel’s ground level.
These anomalies, which are not linked to metallic objects, could potentially help pinpoint the missing individuals. The NGRI has marked these sites, and rescue teams have started removing silt to trace the missing workers.
According to official sources, NGRI scientists employed ground penetrating radar (GPR) to scan the tunnel stretch from 12.5 km to 13.90 km, the point where the roof collapsed on Feb 22. The scans revealed anomalies, buried about 2 to 3 metres deep.
NGRI experts emphasised that while the objects appeared different from heavy metals, it is still unclear whether these could be human remains. “The objects found could be light metal, wooden or other materials. We cannot conclusively identify them as human remains,” NGRI said in its report, submitted to Nagarkurnool district collector on Friday evening.
In response, the administration has focused its efforts on desilting operations at these key points, even as rescue operations led by 12 agencies are still underway. Family members of the missing workers have been asked to remain at the site as the search continued.
Rescuers have been working tirelessly to remove slush, dismantle the damaged tunnel boring machine (TBM) and clear debris. “To expedite the rescue process, about 100 personnel are working in each shift at a time, and we have three shifts. The south central railway has brought in an ultra-thermo cutter to help dismantle the TBM,” special chief secretary, disaster management, Arvind Kumar, told TOI.
In addition to manual silt removal, govt deployed an excavator to accelerate the process. Continuous dewatering is also being carried out using 100 HP pumps to manage the large volumes of water coming from the silt. As the silt is being removed, the rescue teams noticed significant water seepage, further complicating the operation.
Earlier in the day, a high-level meeting was convened with key officials from various departments and agencies. Irrigation special secretary Prashant Jeevan Patil, BRO tunnel expert Col Parikshit Mehra, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) chairman and managing director N Balaram, representatives from NDRF, SDRF, South Central Railway and rat miners attended the meeting.
Cameras have been installed inside the tunnel to allow for continuous monitoring, enabling officials to promptly deliver any necessary materials or support to the rescuers.
These anomalies, which are not linked to metallic objects, could potentially help pinpoint the missing individuals. The NGRI has marked these sites, and rescue teams have started removing silt to trace the missing workers.
According to official sources, NGRI scientists employed ground penetrating radar (GPR) to scan the tunnel stretch from 12.5 km to 13.90 km, the point where the roof collapsed on Feb 22. The scans revealed anomalies, buried about 2 to 3 metres deep.
NGRI experts emphasised that while the objects appeared different from heavy metals, it is still unclear whether these could be human remains. “The objects found could be light metal, wooden or other materials. We cannot conclusively identify them as human remains,” NGRI said in its report, submitted to Nagarkurnool district collector on Friday evening.
In response, the administration has focused its efforts on desilting operations at these key points, even as rescue operations led by 12 agencies are still underway. Family members of the missing workers have been asked to remain at the site as the search continued.
Rescuers have been working tirelessly to remove slush, dismantle the damaged tunnel boring machine (TBM) and clear debris. “To expedite the rescue process, about 100 personnel are working in each shift at a time, and we have three shifts. The south central railway has brought in an ultra-thermo cutter to help dismantle the TBM,” special chief secretary, disaster management, Arvind Kumar, told TOI.
In addition to manual silt removal, govt deployed an excavator to accelerate the process. Continuous dewatering is also being carried out using 100 HP pumps to manage the large volumes of water coming from the silt. As the silt is being removed, the rescue teams noticed significant water seepage, further complicating the operation.
Earlier in the day, a high-level meeting was convened with key officials from various departments and agencies. Irrigation special secretary Prashant Jeevan Patil, BRO tunnel expert Col Parikshit Mehra, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) chairman and managing director N Balaram, representatives from NDRF, SDRF, South Central Railway and rat miners attended the meeting.
Cameras have been installed inside the tunnel to allow for continuous monitoring, enabling officials to promptly deliver any necessary materials or support to the rescuers.
