SLBC Tunnel Collapse: 8 Workers Trapped, Political Blame Game Heats Up in Telangana

SLBC tunnel disaster in Telangana: Eight employees detained, political blame intensifies. Read on to know about the quotation delays, the controversy between Congress-BRS-BJP and the importance of the irrigation project.

SLBC Tunnel Collapse: 8 Workers Trapped, Political Blame Game Heats Up in Telangana

What happened in the SLBC tunnel disaster in the state of Teilangana?

On February 22, 2025, the roof of the Srisailam Left Bank System Tunnel (SLBC) collapsed in Domalpent-Nagar Kurnool district, trapping eight personnel underground. Nine days later, on March 2, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy visited the site, and a time war with rescue teams began. Four locations were identified by a ground penetration recorder (GPR) device on March 1, but personnel have not yet been found. What's wrong with this? Why is this controversy?

Time course of the SLBC-tunnel disaster

2025 February 22: 14 km of tunnel opens. The roof collapsed inside, trapping two engineers from Robbins Inc. and six employees from Jaiprakash Associates.

2025 March 1: GPR device suspects four employees, officials assure rescue March 2 evening.

March 2, 2025: Chief Minister visits site, but rescue is delayed by sewage and water. This is not just a mechanical accident, but a human tragedy.

 Who are the blocked employees?

Sunny Singh and Gurpreet Singh (engineers of Robbins Inc., operating the tunneling machine).

Manoj Kumar, Srinivas, Sandeep Sahu, Santosh Sahu, Anuj Sahu, Jagat Khesh (workers of Jaiprakash Associates).

Their families are worried and the struggle is on with Army, Navy and NDRF teams and 500 rescue workers.

Why was rescue delayed?

Location: 44 km. There is no central entrance under the Amrabad Tiger Stream in the long tunnel.

Geological risk: "Shear zone"-the tunnel was built in this poorly drained area.

Mechanical difficulties, debris loads, water ingress and machinery breakdown have slowed the rescue.

Experts say: "The very design of the project was risky."

Political controversy – whose fault is the disaster?

Congress, BRS and BJP are handing blame to each other.

KCR blamed on Revanth Reddy's opinion

Chief Minister Reddy said in Vanaparthi: "KCR postponed the project for 10 years, so this is an accident. Tailanga water was stolen by the Rayalseema project for Andhra Pradesh."

BRS reply

BRS leader Harish Rao said: "We have built 12 km tunnel, spent ₹3900 crore. Congress resumed work without ventilation system, this negligence."

BJP objection

BJP leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy said: "Congress ignored security checks. PM Modi sent help quickly, but ministers of state are just hovering in helicopters."

Congress-Own party support

Water Resources Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said: "BRS was silent on 2020 Srisaila blast. If BRS had completed the project, irrigation of 4 lakh acres was possible."

What is the SLBC-tunnel? Why is it important?

This is the main part of the Aliminati Madhavaredi Project (AMRP), launched in

Objective: To take 30 tmcft of water from Srisaila dam for irrigation in Nalgonda-Nagar Kurnool dry areas.

Challenges: 10 years of delay in the BRS regime and complex geology.

Chief Minister Reddy said: "We will complete the project by any means."

Oilfield Irrigation – Ten Years of Debate

The SLBC disaster reawakened old debates.

BRS report: ₹1.81 lakh crore spent, Param Kaleshwaram (₹1 lakh crore), Palamuru-Rangareddy (₹27500 crore) projects failed.

Congressional effort: 2024 restarted the project, but disaster struck.

This is important for farmers' water and politics.

What is the future of the SLBC project?

Rescue efforts are underway until March 2nd. The Water Resources Minister said: "Work will resume in 2-3 months." But there are losses and breakdowns in lives. Will Tailanga be able to complete this project successfully?

 Let us know what you think!

Who do you think is to blame for this disaster? How can Tailanga improve its irrigation projects? Write in the comments, and join us for the latest news.