Hyderabad, Feb. 23 -- Telangana tourism minister Jupally Krishna Rao, who went inside the SLBC tunnel (Nagarkurnool) as close as 100 metres to the area where part of it collapsed, said that the chances of survival of those who are stuck inside are not good keeping in mind the intensity of the happening.

"Given the intensity, it was lucky that 42 people could come out after they received a signal to leave immediately. Few people came out by swimming," he told media after coming out of the tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district.

Jupally said that there was no chance for a machine to enter the tunnel, and the clearing of the debris would have to be done manually in the 100-120 metre distance that needed to be cleared.

"Water is still...