Death toll from blast at Indian hydroelectric project rises to 20 people
A gas explosion at a hydroelectric project in Sikkim, India, has resulted in at least 20 deaths. Rescue efforts are being severely hampered by waterlogged tunnels, methane leaks, and monsoon rains.
Why it matters
The incident highlights growing concerns regarding the environmental and safety risks associated with rapid infrastructure development in the fragile Himalayan region.
Rescuers say flooding and toxic gas in the collapsed tunnel make it unlikely any remaining trapped workers survived.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Ambulances wait to enter a collapsed tunnel during rescue operations in Uttarkashi, India, in November 2023. Experts say rapid development has increased disasters in the ecologically fragile Himalayas [File: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters] By Al Jazeera Staff and AFP Published On 22 Jul 2026 22 Jul 2026 The death toll from a gas explosion that caused a tunnel to collapse at a hydroelectric project under construction in the remote northeastern Indian state of Sikkim has risen to at least 20 people.
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