All 25 bodies of workers retrieved from Sikkim tunnel
Rescue operations have concluded in Sikkim after the recovery of all 25 workers trapped in a tunnel explosion at the Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project. Authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the methane gas explosion.
Why it matters
The tragedy raises critical questions regarding industrial safety standards and risk management in large-scale infrastructure projects in mountainous regions.
Multiple agencies concluded their search and rescue operation after the bodies of all 25 workers trapped inside an under- construction tunnel of a hydropower project in Sikkim’s Namchi district were recovered by Thursday (July 23, 2026) evening.
“The bodies of all the 25 missing persons have been recovered. The search and rescue operation was subsequently concluded,” Namchi’s District Magistrate Anupa Tamling told The Hindu .
Editorial | Buried questions: On the Sikkim tunnel accident
According to the NHPC, 25 workers were about 1.5 km inside the tunnel when “sudden explosive release of suspected methane gas” caused an explosion at 1:04 p.m. on July 20. However, the Central PSU and the Sikkim government announced separate investigations into the cause of the accident.
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