Two Belgian Malinois dogs, Maya and Murphy, touched down at the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel site on March 6, carrying with them the last sliver of hope for the families of eight missing workers. Transported by an Indian Air Force cargo flight from Cochin International Airport, the Kerala Police cadaver dog squad was brought in after all other rescue efforts had fallen short. Their task? To find the bodies buried deep beneath the rubble, an assignment both grim and crucial.
How the Search Began
The collapse of the SLBC tunnel on February 22 left rescue teams racing against time. Water, mud, and jagged rocks made access nearly impossible. Heavy machinery cleared portions of debris, but the bodies remained elusive. That’s when Telangana authorities called in Maya and Murphy, two highly trained cadaver dogs with a proven track record.
The dogs weren’t sent into the tunnel immediately. Rescuers first used drilling equipment to break through layers of concrete and rock. Only after ensuring relative safety was Maya brought in on March 7 to assess the landscape. Her keen nose quickly picked up a scent, leading search teams to one of the missing men: Gurpreet Singh, a worker from Punjab.
Navigating a Dangerous Terrain
The SLBC tunnel isn’t just any excavation site—it’s a treacherous mix of unstable earth and unpredictable water levels. The search was slow and methodical.
- Waterlogged and unstable: The tunnel’s partially submerged sections made it difficult for even experienced rescuers to proceed.
- Equipment failure: Initial attempts at debris removal were hindered by malfunctioning drills and limited access points.
- Time working against them: The longer the bodies remained buried, the harder they would be to locate.
Despite these obstacles, Maya and Murphy pressed on, moving swiftly through debris-strewn paths, following the faintest traces of human remains.
The Role of Cadaver Dogs in Disaster Response
Maya and Murphy aren’t ordinary police dogs. Trained at the Kerala Police Academy, these Belgian Malinois have undergone years of rigorous training to detect human remains in the toughest conditions. Their ability to differentiate between fresh and decayed scents makes them invaluable in disaster zones.
Cadaver dog training involves:
| Training Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Scent Detection | Recognizing decomposing human tissue |
| Obstacle Navigation | Moving through rubble, water, and tight spaces |
| Endurance Drills | Working in extreme conditions for long hours |
The Kerala Police force has relied on Maya and Murphy in multiple cases before, but this mission is one of their most challenging yet.
Hopes Fading, But the Search Continues
As of March 11, seven bodies remain unaccounted for. Families of the missing workers wait anxiously, their hopes pinned on the dogs and the rescue teams still working around the clock. Every search brings fresh uncertainty—will they recover another body today, or will the tunnel’s deadly grip hold on?
Murphy’s handler, Prabhath P, described the emotional toll. “These missions are never easy. We do our best, but we can feel the weight of the families’ pain.”
For now, Maya and Murphy continue their work, their paws leaving imprints on a site where human lives were lost. Their task isn’t finished yet, and neither is the search for closure.
