8 dead, around 20 trapped as rescue continues
A tunnel collapse at the Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim has resulted in at least 10 deaths, with 15 workers still trapped underground. Rescue efforts are being hampered by heavy rainfall and the presence of suspected toxic methane gas within the tunnel.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the extreme risks associated with large-scale infrastructure projects in geologically unstable and environmentally sensitive regions.
At least 10 people were killed and 15 others remain trapped after a landslide triggered a tunnel collapse in Sikkim’s Namchi district on Monday. While continuous rainfall is destabilising the terrain and hampering progress, suspected toxic gas leaks inside the shaft have complicated the search operation, sources said. The incident occurred inside a 7-km under-construction tunnel of the Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project near Samardung. At the time, between 25 and 38 people, including high-level personnel from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Patel Engineering, the project developer, who were on a routine inspection, were at the site. Emergency teams have rescued 16 people, while 15 others remain trapped, roughly 3 km underground. Speaking to The Indian Express over the phone, Sonam Dolma Bhutia, Superintendent of Police, Namchi district, confirmed that 15 people are still trapped.
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