India tunnel collapse at a hydropower project kills 10 as 17 remain missing
A tunnel collapse at a hydropower project in Sikkim, India, caused by a suspected methane gas explosion, has resulted in at least 10 deaths and left 17 workers missing. Rescue operations are currently hindered by the presence of toxic gases and hazardous conditions within the tunnel.
Why it matters
The tragedy underscores the severe safety risks associated with large-scale infrastructure projects in geologically complex regions like the Himalayas.
Rescue teams have been struggling to reach the 17 people trapped because of hazardous conditions inside the tunnel.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Members of the rescue team get ready to enter the under-construction tunnel where an explosion happened at a hydropower project in Samardung village in the Himalayan region in India [AP Photo] By Al Jazeera Staff , Reuters and The Associated Press Published On 21 Jul 2026 21 Jul 2026 At least 10 people have died and 17 others remain missing after a suspected gas explosion triggered the collapse of a tunnel under construction at a hydropower project in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim, officials said.
The blast ripped through the tunnel on Monday at Samardung village, near the border with Bhutan and Tibet in the Himalayas, officials said.
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