KTR slams state, Centre over SLBC tunnel collapse
BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao on Sunday accused the Revanth Reddy government of “criminal negligence” over the February 22 Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse that trapped eight workers, saying more than 200 days after the accident six bodies remain inside the tunnel and families have not been paid compensation.
Rao, posting on X, said the collapse “killed eight hapless workers” and blamed the “criminal negligence of the corrupt Revanth government”. He alleged the state had failed to retrieve the bodies of six victims and had not provided compensation to the families.
More than 200 days since the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel collapsed, killing 8 hapless workers due to the criminal negligence of the corrupt Revanth Govt
This inefficient Congress govt couldn’t even retrieve the bodies of 6 victims, and hasn’t paid any compensation to the… pic.twitter.com/Rl11OwVJvf
— KTR (@KTRBRS) September 14, 2025
Rao also criticised the Union government, accusing it of double standards for sending a National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) team to examine “minor issues” at the Kaleshwaram project but not dispatching any team to probe lapses at the SLBC site. He asked why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre was “shielding” the Congress in Telangana.
Officials say the partial collapse occurred on February 22, 2025, about 14 km into the under-construction tunnel. Eight workers were trapped; rescue operations recovered two bodies in March, while efforts to retrieve the remaining workers were hampered by unstable geology and safety concerns. State authorities have since announced plans to resume tunnel work with stricter safety protocols and expert support.
A Telangana irrigation department statement and later briefings said work on the tunnel will resume using revised techniques and additional technical inputs, including heli-borne geological surveys and third-party quality checks. The state has also sought assistance from defence tunnelling experts and national research institutes as it plans a new alignment around the damaged section.
BRS leaders repeated a promise that, if the party returns to power, they will “ensure justice” for the families and seek accountability for those responsible. Rao said the six families deserved answers and closure.
