Sikkim tunnel collapse: 20 bodies recovered from site, 11 from north Bengal
A tunnel collapse at the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI hydroelectric project in Sikkim has resulted in at least 20 deaths. Authorities suspect a methane gas explosion triggered the collapse, and rescue operations are currently underway.
Why it matters
The incident highlights significant safety concerns in large-scale infrastructure projects and has prompted government investigations and compensation announcements.
JALPAIGURI/SILIGURI: At least 20 of the 27 people trapped in a collapsed tunnel of an under-construction hydro-electric project in Sikkim’s Namchi district have died. Two workers have exited the tunnel and search is on for the rest.Of the 20 bodies recovered, 13 have been identified, sources said. Nine of the deceased are from Jalpaiguri district and two from Alipurduar district. One of the dead was from Punjab and another from Sikkim.One of the missing men — Anish Mohan, 43 — is a geologist from Kerala.Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang-Golay said of the 27 people who were inside the under-construction tunnel of the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung-Jholungey in Namchi when an explosion triggered a collapse on Monday afternoon, two managed to come out of the tunnel.NHPC said a suspected burst of methane trapped inside the rock strata triggered an explosion that generated fumes and toxic gases.
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