Sikkim tunnel collapse: Seven dead, several feared trapped as rescue op continues

NEW DELHI: At least seven people have died while several workers are feared trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Sikkim's Namchi district after a landslide blocked the entrance and triggered a suspected gas leak on Monday. The incident occurred inside an under-construction tunnel at Samardung, Jholungey, in Namchi district. Authorities suspect that around 27 workers were trapped inside, although the exact number has not yet been confirmed.Rescue teams are carrying out a massive operation to evacuate those trapped, officials said."As per the latest official information, seven fatalities have been reported by the District Administration," the Namchi Information and Public Relations Department said in a statement.The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to Singtam District Hospital, STNM Hospital in Gangtok, and Namchi District Hospital, it added."There is a possibility that around 27 workers are trapped inside the tunnel.