As the rescue operation to save eight trapped individuals in the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel enters its 16th day, specialized cadaver dogs from Kerala Police are set to re-enter the site on Sunday to search for human presence. The Belgian Malinois breed dogs, renowned for detecting human remains up to 15 feet deep, first joined efforts on March 7. Their deployment marks a critical phase in a mission hampered by treacherous conditions.

On Saturday, a senior official revealed that Human Remains Detection Dogs (HRDDs) identified two potential spots where workers—engineers and laborers trapped since February 22—might be buried under the second layer of a dismantled tunnel boring machine (TBM). Rescue teams plan to dig beyond five feet at these points, navigating a hazardous mix of water, slush, and debris. The TBM’s fragmented remains, submerged under soil and stones, have posed significant risks to the 700-plus personnel from NDRF, Indian Army, Navy, and other agencies working tirelessly.

The Telangana government, wary of the tunnel’s instability, will introduce robots starting March 11 to enhance safety for rescuers. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) submitted an initial report cautioning extreme care in the final 70 meters of the collapse site, where water seepage and muck continue to complicate efforts. Despite advanced cutters, seismic studies, and drone mapping, no breakthrough has been achieved.

The SLBC project, the world’s longest irrigation tunnel at 44 km, aims to irrigate four lakh acres but has faced delays and now tragedy. As hope dims, the focus shifts to these canines and technology, underscoring the operation’s complexity and the desperate race against time.