West Bengal CM Provides Financial Aid to Families of Tunnel Collapse Victims

In a compassionate response to the tragic tunnel collapse in Sikkim that claimed the lives of 11 migrant workers, West Bengal's Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari has announced significant financial support and job opportunities for the victims' families. Each family will receive ₹21 lakh in compensation, along with government job placements for nine family members. The Chief Minister emphasized the state's responsibility to support these grieving families during their time of need. This initiative follows additional compensation from both the Sikkim government and the companies involved in the project, highlighting a collective effort to assist those affected by this unfortunate incident.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 18:13 IST

Support for Victims' Families in Jalpaiguri

Jalpaiguri, July 27 - The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shubhendu Adhikari, extended financial assistance to the families of 11 migrant workers who tragically lost their lives in a recent tunnel collapse in the Namchi district of neighboring Sikkim. During a visit to the Jalpaiguri District Magistrate's office, he announced that each affected family would receive a compensation of ₹21 lakh. Speaking to reporters, Adhikari stated, “Today, we have provided financial support to the families of the deceased workers.”

Additionally, he revealed that nine family members would be offered government jobs, with seven being appointed as Home Guards and two as civil volunteers. “In this time of sorrow, we stand firmly with these families,” he added. The Chief Minister personally handed over the appointment letters and financial assistance from the state government to the grieving families.

Many of the deceased workers hailed from Malbazar and other regions of North Bengal. Adhikari also interacted with the parents, spouses, and siblings of the victims, emphasizing, “This is not an act of charity, but our responsibility.”

The state government is providing ₹5 lakh to each bereaved family from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The Sikkim government has already disbursed ₹4 lakh to each family. The public sector company involved in the project is compensating each family with ₹5 lakh, while the private contractor is also offering ₹5 lakh to each family.

The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased.” Last week, a section of the tunnel under construction in Namchi collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 11 workers from the state, nine of whom were residents of Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district.