Hyderabad, March 4 -- In a major breakthrough regarding the SLBC tunnel collapse rescue operation, the conveyor belt, which was dysfunctional for the past 11 days, has been repaired. With this, the rescue operation will gain momentum as the machinery can run till the tail end of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) where the eight workers are believed to be trapped.

It will now make it easier for rescue personnel to shift muck and debris out, officials said.

Meanwhile, a team of South Central Railway (SCR) comprising metal cutting experts cut the platform of the damaged Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) inside the tunnel, a SCR official said on Tuesday.

On February 22, a portion of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool colla...