12 dead in Sikkim NHPC tunnel collapse, rescue on, methane leak suspected

At least 12 people were killed after a section of the under-construction Head Race Tunnel (HRT) of the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project collapsed at Samardung, Jholungey, in Sikkim’s Namchi district on Monday afternoon. Rescue operations continued through Tuesday amid fears that the death toll could rise further.

According to officials, the tunnel collapse was followed by a suspected methane gas leak, filling the tunnel with dense fumes and toxic gases. Twenty-five workers were trapped inside after the incident, while two others managed to escape.

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Rescue teams initially brought out 16 workers alive after hours of strenuous efforts on Monday night. They were admitted to hospitals for treatment. Since the early hours of Tuesday, rescuers have recovered 11 bodies, eight of which have been identified.

Namchi District Superintendent of Police Sonam D Bhutia said several workers were still trapped and the death toll was likely to increase. A member of the specialised rescue team from Coal India told reporters that eight more (dead) persons were believed to be inside the tunnel but declined to comment further, saying, “Let us carry out the rescue operations.”

According to Namchi District Police, 10 bodies had been recovered by 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Bolo Oraon, Gora Oraon and Bikesar Oraon of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal; Yasohal of Pathankot, Punjab; Vikey Rawat of Dehradun, Uttarakhand; Babul Borodalai of Assam; and Lakpa Dorjee Tamang of Katang in Namchi district. Three unidentified bodies were sent to Singtam District Hospital and STNM Hospital for identification and legal formalities. Another body was recovered later, taking the death toll to 11.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) and Governor Om Prakash Mathur visited the accident site and reviewed the rescue operation with NHPC officials.

Addressing reporters, the Chief Minister said the tunnel collapsed around lunchtime on Monday. According to preliminary information, 27 workers were inside the tunnel when the accident occurred. Two escaped safely, while 25 remained trapped.

He said personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Sikkim Police, Fire and Emergency Services, district administration and NHPC were jointly carrying out the rescue operation, with additional support from Central and State agencies.

A specialised team from the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) has also reached the site to assess the tunnel conditions. The exact cause of the accident has not yet been established, although methane gas is suspected to have triggered the disaster.

The Chief Minister announced the constitution of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident. He said strict action would be taken if negligence by any agency or individual was established.

The Sikkim Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for every injured worker.

Mr Tamang also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to him over the phone and assured the State Government of all possible assistance. “Our first priority is to complete the rescue operation and save the trapped workers,” he said.

SP Sonam D. Bhutia said heavy overnight rain caused water to enter the tunnel, hampering rescue efforts. Operations resumed after the water was pumped out around midnight. She added that specialist hazardous gas and chemical response teams from Asansol and Durgapur were on their way to assist investigators and rescuers.

A senior rescue official said the collapse occurred nearly 1.5 km inside the tunnel. The presence of toxic gases, including carbon monoxide, made rescue operations extremely challenging and reduced the chances of survival for those trapped.

Namchi District Information Officer Dipti Pradhan continued to issue periodic updates on the rescue operation, while authorities shifted the recovered bodies to Singtam District Hospital, STNM Hospital in Gangtok and Namchi District Hospital for post-mortem examinations and other legal formalities.

The rescue operation is being jointly conducted by NHPC, the Namchi district administration, NDRF, SDRF, Sikkim Police, Fire and Emergency Services, the Health Department and other line departments. The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) is closely monitoring the situation.

In a press release, NHPC said the accident occurred at 1.04 p.m. on Monday when a sudden burst of suspected methane gas trapped within the rock triggered an explosion inside the under-construction Head Race Tunnel, generating dense fumes and toxic gases.

The company said emergency response protocols were activated immediately and rescue operations were launched in coordination with the district administration, NDRF, SDRF, DGMS and other agencies. NHPC said its top management had reached the site and that a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang over the phone and assured all possible assistance.

In a post on X, Mr Adhikari said he had personally spoken to the Sikkim Chief Minister to take stock of the situation, noting that several of the affected workers were believed to be from Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal. He said Minister Bishal Lama and the Darjeeling District Magistrate had been deputed to the site, while the West Bengal Home Secretary was maintaining constant contact with the Sikkim administration for updates on the rescue operation.