Death toll in NHPC tunnel disaster rises to 15 as three more bodies recovered

The death toll in the NHPC tunnel disaster at Samardung in South Sikkim’s Namchi district rose to 15 on Wednesday evening after rescue teams recovered three more bodies from the collapsed tunnel.

Speaking to The Statesman, Namchi Superintendent of Police Sonam D. Bhutia confirmed that, as of 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, three additional bodies had been recovered, taking the total number of fatalities to 15.

Advertisement

The tragedy unfolded on Monday afternoon when a section of the under-construction NHPC tunnel collapsed, trapping several workers inside. Sixteen injured workers were rescued on Monday late evening.

Rescue teams recovered the first seven bodies during the early hours of Tuesday. By the end of the day, the number of bodies recovered had risen to 12. However, persistent heavy rainfall and severe waterlogging inside the tunnel forced authorities to suspend the rescue operation as conditions became too hazardous for personnel.

Fresh rescue operations resumed after noon on Wednesday.

Teams comprising personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), specialised mining rescue experts from Asansol, and other agencies re-entered the tunnel. During the operation, three more bodies were recovered one after another, raising the confirmed death toll to 15.

A medical officer in Sikkim said the post-mortem examination confirmed that the four workers whose bodies were recovered from the collapsed tunnel in Namchi district died due to asphyxia and burn injuries.

Rescue operations are continuing to trace the remaining missing workers as specialised teams battle difficult conditions inside the tunnel, Bhutia said.

NHPC has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each worker who lost their life in the tragic tunnel collapse at its under-construction Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project in South Sikkim.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, NHPC said rescue operations at the Head Race Tunnel (HRT) are continuing round the clock in coordination with the district administration, NDRF, SDRF, Patel Engineering Limited, Eastern Coalfields Limited, Western Coalfields Limited and other agencies.

Of the 25 personnel trapped inside the tunnel, 13 bodies have been recovered so far, while efforts are underway to locate and evacuate the remaining personnel. NHPC’s top management is present at the site to monitor and coordinate the rescue operations.

Expressing profound grief over the tragedy, the company conveyed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and announced the Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia compensation for the next of kin of each deceased worker.

West Bengal Minister of State for Home and Hill Affairs Bishal Lama on Wednesday said the state government will provide Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia to the family of each worker from West Bengal who died in the NHPC tunnel collapse in South Sikkim.

Lama said that 15 bodies have been recovered so far. Of them, seven are from West Bengal—one from Falakata in Alipurduar district and six from Nagrakata and Meteli in Jalpaiguri district.

He said 11 of the trapped workers are believed to be from West Bengal, while rescue operations are continuing to trace the remaining missing workers.

Authorities have started separate inquiries into the tragic incident at the under-construction NHPC Head Race Tunnel (HRT) of the Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project to ascertain its exact cause.

The 1.5-km-long tunnel posed immense challenges for rescue teams. Personnel could reach only about one kilometre by vehicle and had to cover the remaining 500 metres on foot. According to senior police officials, the tunnel was filled with carbon monoxide and other hazardous gases, making rescue operations extremely difficult.

Officials said the exact cause of the incident is yet to be established. However, workers reportedly heard a loud explosion-like sound before the tunnel became inundated with toxic gases, suspected to include methane.