February 26, 2025: Rescue teams working tirelessly to locate eight trapped workers in the collapsed SLBC tunnel in Telangana reached the tunnel's endpoint on Tuesday but found no sign of the missing individuals, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The large-scale rescue operation, involving experts from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Indian Army, has made significant progress but continues to face immense challenges. A 20-member team, including rat miners, surpassed the previous 40-meter limit and successfully reached the last section of the tunnel, yet the workers remain unaccounted for.

For the first time since the tunnel collapse, rescue teams deployed sniffer dogs on Tuesday, hoping they would detect any signs of life amid the rubble. Meanwhile, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has collected soil samples to analyze the tunnel's stability, though officials are still awaiting their report to determine the next steps.

Efforts to establish communication with the trapped workers have so far been unsuccessful. However, authorities continue to pump oxygen into the tunnel, hoping it will sustain the missing individuals until they can be reached.

Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy described the situation as one of the most challenging tunnel rescues ever attempted in India, possibly even globally, given the SLBC tunnel's single entry and exit point.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy called the incident an "unfortunate accident" and assured that the central government is extending full support. He also confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy regarding the ongoing rescue efforts.

As the clock ticks, rescuers are racing against time to find the missing workers, with hopes still alive for a breakthrough in this complex and high-stakes operation.