The chances of survival of the eight persons who remain trapped in the SLBC tunnel after a partial collapse two days ago are "very remote," though every effort is being made to reach them, Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said on Monday.
He also mentioned that a team of rat miners, who had rescued the construction workers trapped in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has joined the rescue teams to extricate the men.
The Minister stated that rescuing the trapped individuals would take at least three to four days, as the accident site is filled with muck and debris, making it a daunting task for the rescuers.
"To be honest, the chances of their survival are very, very, very, very remote. Because, I myself went up to the end, almost just 50 meters short (of the mishap site). When we took photographs, the end (of the tunnel) was visible. And out of the 9 meter diameter (of the tunnel)--almost 30 feet, out of that 30 feet, mud has piled up up to 25 feet", he told PTI.
"When we shouted their names also, there was no response...so, there is no chance at all," he said. (PTI)
