Telangana tunnel collapse: Distraught families of trapped workers anxiously await positive news

8 workers trapped in Telangana tunnel collapse

As the rescue efforts hit a roadblock at the collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana, the families of the eight trapped workers are anxiously waiting for any positive news.

Most of the trapped men are the sole breadwinners of their families.

The workers, trapped since Saturday when a portion of the tunnel collapsed, have been identified as Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh; Sandeep Sahu, Jagta Xess, Santosh Sahu, and Anuj Sahu from Jharkhand; Sunny Singh from Jammu and Kashmir; and Gurpreet Singh from Punjab.

In Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, Gurpreet Singh’s family is devastated. His distressed wife, Rajwinder Kaur, said he last spoke to her on Saturday before leaving for work. “I keep staring at my phone, hoping he’ll call,” she said. Their two daughters, aged 13 and 16, are struggling to cope, especially as the elder one appears for her CBSE class 10 exams. The family is disappointed with the lack of government coordination.

In Jharkhand’s Gumla district, Sandeep Sahu’s family is equally distraught. His brother Arjun said Sandeep had been supporting their entire family and funding his younger siblings’ education. “He was supposed to visit for Holi,” Arjun said. The family has taken out loans to buy a flight ticket for their father to travel to the SLBC site.

Another worker from Jharkhand, Santosh Sahu, 37, has left behind his wife and three children in Tirra village. His roommate, Ajay Kumar Sahu, said Santosh sent home Rs 15,000 every month and was the family’s main provider.

According to an Indian Express report, the youngest among the trapped men, 24-year-old Anuj Sahu, is from Khamiya village in Jharkhand’s Gumla district. He is also the eldest in his family, supporting his two younger brothers who are still studying.

With almost 60 hours elapsed since the collapse of the Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, concerns over the well-being of the eight workers trapped since Saturday morning continue to rise.

Heavy water and mud seepage are making it nearly impossible for teams to move forward.