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Second body found at Telangana tunnel collapse site, CM Revanth Reddy takes stock

Body yet to be identified, rescuers say it was found near the tunnel boring machine, which was buried in the collapse

On February 22, part of the tunnel roof – about three metres in length – had collapsed trapping Sunny, Gurpreet and six other tunnel workers (Express Photo)

Rescuers on Tuesday found a second body from the collapse site of the SLBC tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district. The body has not yet been identified, a top rescuer in the know told The Indian Express.

The body was found 50 meters from the site where the collapse took place. A part of the tunnel roof had collapsed on February 22, trapping eight workers. On March 9, one body was recovered from near the Tunnel Boring Machine, which was operational when the collapse took place. The body was identified as that of Gurpreet Singh of Tarn Taran, Punjab.

The second body was discovered a day after the Telangana government decided to go ahead with search operations at the tunnel.

On Monday, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy attended a meeting to review the operations. The CM “instructed officials to expedite the necessary operations”, a press statement from the Chief Minister’s Office read. He also appointed a top IAS officer to oversee the operations.

Also Read | Express Exclusive: 5 years before Telangana tunnel collapse, report warned contractor of weak rocks and water retention

In the review meeting, the CM was briefed about the ongoing search operations led by 25 agencies, including central, state and private organisations. “A total of 700 personnel have been involved in the rescue operations,” officials told the CM.

“In the meeting, top authorities said that rescue operations were delayed due to poor air and light conditions as the accident occurred 14 kilometres from the inlet in the tunnel. Thirty meters of the accident area has been identified as the most dangerous zone. The officials also clarified that rescue operations will have to be carried out in the tunnel according to the scientific studies of the GSI and NGRI,” a press statement read.

Nikhila Henry

Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society. Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read More

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