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The death toll from the tunnel collapse and methane gas leak at the under-construction NHPC Teesta Hydropower Project in Samardung, Namchi district of India’s Sikkim has risen to 20, with five workers still missing, according to state authorities.
As of Wednesday morning, 13 bodies had been recovered, while rescue teams had located the remains of seven more workers inside different sections of the tunnel. Authorities said five others are still believed to be trapped, although their exact location has yet to be determined.
The disaster occurred on Tuesday afternoon during the workers’ lunch break. Of the 27 workers inside the tunnel at the time, two managed to escape, while 25 were trapped following the collapse and explosion.
Rescue efforts involving the Sikkim Police, SDRF, NDRF, West Bengal Disaster Response Force, and a specialised rescue team from Eastern Coalfields Limited have continued around the clock.
Officials said toxic methane gas and unstable tunnel conditions have severely hampered rescue operations.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who visited the site along with Governor Om Prakash Mathur, said the state government would investigate the cause of the accident and take legal action if negligence by the company is established.
The state government has announced Rs400,000 in compensation for the families of each deceased worker and Rs50,000 for those injured.
According to officials, at least nine of the deceased workers were from Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal, where the tragedy has cast a shadow of grief over their families and communities.
Rescue teams said operations will continue until all trapped workers and bodies are recovered.