Rescue teams recover first body from SLBC Tunnel Collapse

Nagarkurnool

After extensive rescue operations, officials recovered the body of one of the eight trapped workers on Sunday. The body was found buried under 10 feet of silt and has been sent to the Nagarkurnool civil hospital for post-mortem and further formalities.

A senior official confirmed that the retrieval process took more than 48 hours due to the delicate nature of the excavation. Efforts are now underway to confirm the identity of the deceased, a police official added.

Rescue teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Singareni Collieries Ltd, and specialized rat miners, continue to search for the other trapped men.

To aid in the operation, the state government deployed cadaver dogs from the Kerala Police to detect human presence. Digging is being conducted in areas identified by the canines.

Eight individuals, including engineers and laborers, have been trapped in the collapsed tunnel since February 22. Experts from the NDRF, Indian Army, and Navy are relentlessly working to rescue them and bring them to safety.