Hyderabad: One more body of a worker trapped in the SLBC Tunnel in Nagarkurnol has been found by the rescue team. So far two bodies have been recovered from the rubble after the tunnel collapsed on February 22.
Some rescue workers engaged in digging work in the last 50 meters of the 14-km-long tunnel noticed a foul smell from a spot near the loco track and alerted the officials. The agencies were now focussing their efforts on the spot which is said to be outside D1 and D2, where the missing workers were suspected to be buried under the rubble.
The body was found approximately 50 meters away from the conveyor belt during excavation efforts using a mini excavator. The worker is yet to be identified.
Rescue teams immediately began the process of retrieving the body. Officials said that identification of the deceased may take some time. Search operations continued as teams focused on locating six other missing workers.
On March 22, a month after the tunnel collapse the Telangana government sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the rescue operations at the site.
Telangana Revenue (Disaster Management) issued orders to this effect following a request of the Nagarkurnool district collector, the government has directed the Finance Department to sanction these funds.
At a review meeting in Hyderabad on Monday, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed the officials to expedite the rescue operations. He instructed Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari to appoint senior IAS officer Shiva Shankar Loteti as a Special Officer to continuously monitor the rescue operations.
The officials informed the Chief Minister that 25 agencies, including various wings of the Central and state governments as well as private organisations, were engaged in the rescue operations. A total of 700 personnel have been involved in the operation.
The official said the rescue teams are removing the debris of collapsed rocks, dismantling TBM parts, and clearing soil mounds, silt, and water from the tunnel. They explained that rescue operations were delayed due to poor air and light conditions as the accident occurred 14 kilometres from the inlet. About 30 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.
On March 9, the body of a worker identified as Gurpreet Singh was recovered and handed over to his family in Punjab.
(With IANS inputs)
Follow on Twitter | Posted by Mohammed Baleegh | 
