Sikkim tunnel collapse: Death toll rises to 10, several feared trapped; rescue operation continues

The death toll in the Sikkim tunnel tragedy on Tuesday rose to 10 as a multi-agency rescue operation was underway in the Namchi district, authorities said. The incident was triggered by a landslide at the under-construction NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project tunnel at Samardung, Jholungey.

Namchi Superintendent of Police Sonam Dolma said, "Ten bodies have been recovered. Three bodies remain unidentified. The deceased are from Bengal, Uttarakhand, Assam, and Sikkim."

Earlier, the district authorities said that more than 20 people were feared trapped inside the collapsed tunnel. Authorities, supported by specialised disaster response teams, are continuing efforts to reach and evacuate those still inside the tunnel.

PM announces ex gratia for victims

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths caused by the collapse of an under-construction tunnel and announced an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the families of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 for those injured, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

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The bodies of those deceased were taken to Singtam District Hospital, STNM Hospital, Gangtok, and Namchi District Hospital.

The incident occurred at 3.09 pm on Monday inside the Samardung tunnel in South Sikkim, where Patel Engineering is constructing a section of the Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project.

According to preliminary information, the landslide blocked the tunnel's passage, trapping several workers inside. Rescue efforts have been severely hindered by a suspected methane gas leak, which has made it unsafe for teams to access the affected area.

Multiple agencies join rescue effort

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Sikkim Police, and Fire and Emergency Services have been deployed to the site. Authorities have also regulated traffic movement in the surrounding area to support the ongoing rescue operation.

Namchi District Collector Anupa Tamling said the district administration immediately alerted NDRF teams from Siliguri and Pakyong, along with the SDRF, after receiving information about the incident.

"The incident took place at around 3.09 pm. Fire and emergency services personnel and police officials attempted twice to enter the tunnel without protective gear, but were forced to return because of the hazardous conditions," she said.

Tamling said the first NDRF team that entered the tunnel had to evacuate the Fire and Emergency Services personnel who had made the initial rescue attempt. A second NDRF team later entered the tunnel, and rescue operations are continuing.

Methane levels hamper access to trapped workers

Officials said methane concentrations inside the tunnel remain so high that rescuers have not yet been able to reach the area where the trapped workers are believed to be. Authorities are also yet to establish the exact cause of the landslide.

"As of now, we are unable to understand the reason behind the landslide. According to workers who managed to come out, they heard a huge blast-like sound from inside the tunnel and immediately ran out. There are workers who remain trapped inside," Tamling said.

Tamling cautioned that the number of people trapped remains provisional.

"So far, around 19 workers are believed to have been trapped initially. Subsequently, three personnel from Patel Engineering entered the tunnel to carry out rescue operations, but two of them also became trapped, taking the total from Patel Engineering to 21. In addition, six personnel from NHPC are also believed to be inside, bringing the estimated number to 27. The actual figure could be more or less. Until the NDRF reaches the exact location where the workers are trapped, we cannot confirm the situation inside," she said.

She added that the administration's immediate priority is to safely evacuate everyone trapped inside.