20 dead, rescue continues for five trapped in Sikkim tunnel collapse

Namchi: At least 20 workers have been confirmed dead and five others remained trapped for more than 24 hours after a tunnel under construction collapsed following a suspected methane gas explosion in Sikkim's Namchi district, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred shortly after 1 pm on Monday at the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydropower Project tunnel at Samardung, where 25 workers, including project officers, were inside when the collapse took place.

Namchi Superintendent of Police Sonam D Bhutia said 20 of the 25 trapped workers had been confirmed dead. Rescue teams have so far recovered 12 bodies, of which seven have been identified. Efforts are continuing to recover the remaining victims and identify the bodies.

According to NHPC, a sudden release of suspected methane gas trapped within the rock strata triggered an explosion, filling the tunnel with dense fumes and toxic gases before the collapse.

Multiple rescue agencies, including a specialised mining rescue team from neighbouring West Bengal, are continuing search operations to reach the five workers still believed to be trapped.

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Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang visited the accident site on Tuesday and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the families of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for every injured person.

He also announced the formation of a special committee to investigate the cause of the suspected methane gas blast that led to the disaster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the chief minister to review the situation and assured the state government of all possible assistance from the Centre. The Prime Minister also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Tamang jointly inspected the site earlier in the day, where they reviewed the rescue efforts and instructed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.

They also directed NHPC Chairman and Managing Director Bhupender Gupta to expedite compensation for the victims and instructed the Namchi district administration to establish a dedicated identification centre at Rangpo to assist families, particularly those travelling from other states.

The Sikkim Assembly observed a two-minute silence to pay tribute to the workers who lost their lives.

Addressing the Assembly, the chief minister said both Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him and assured the state of full support from the Government of India.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Ravindra Telang chaired a high-level review meeting in Namchi with Director General of Police Akshay Sachdeva to monitor the progress of rescue operations.

Officials from the district administration, NHPC, Patel Engineering Ltd, the West Bengal administration and various rescue agencies attended the meeting.

Telang directed all agencies to prioritise the identification of the deceased and reviewed the rescue strategy, stressing that available oxygen supplies should be used carefully to ensure rescue operations continue safely and without interruption.

(PTI)