A devastating collapse inside an under-construction tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on Saturday left six to eight workers (to be confirmed) feared trapped, plunging a routine workday into chaos and triggering a swift response from state authorities. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel near Domalapenta, where a three-meter section of the roof caved in, roughly 14 kilometers from the entrance, police said.

The tunnel, part of a major irrigation project resumed just four days ago, was bustling with about 50 workers when the collapse struck. Early reports indicate 43 escaped unharmed, but the fate of those still inside remains unclear as rescue teams from the construction company ventured in to assess the damage. “We’re verifying the situation—it’s deep inside,” said Vaibhav Gaikwad, Nagarkurnool’s police superintendent.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, expressing shock, mobilized a multi-agency response, dispatching the district collector, fire department, and irrigation officials to the site. Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior aides departed by helicopter to oversee the effort. Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy also urged officials to prioritize worker safety and treatment for any injured.

The SLBC project aims to irrigate vast swaths of Telangana, but Saturday’s collapse raises fresh questions about infrastructure safety in India’s rapid development push. As rescuers work against time, the incident casts a shadow over the region’s ambitions, with answers—and accountability—still buried beneath the rubble.