Tragic Tunnel Collapse in Sikkim Claims Lives: What We Know So Far

Devastating Incident in Namchi District

Gangtok: A tragic landslide in Sikkim's Namchi district resulted in the deaths of ten individuals after a tunnel under construction collapsed, as reported by local authorities on Tuesday.

The toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue, according to a district official.

Sikkim's Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang, confirmed that the tunnel, part of the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project located in Samardung, collapsed due to the landslide.

At the time of the incident, 25 individuals, including workers and project officials, were trapped inside the ADIT-3 tunnel when it unexpectedly gave way on Monday.

The Chief Minister mentioned that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to him to inquire about the ongoing rescue efforts.

As of 9:30 AM on Tuesday, ten bodies had been recovered. Seven of the deceased have been identified, while three unidentified bodies were sent to District Hospital Singtam and STNM Hospital.

Among the identified victims, four hailed from Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, with one each from Assam, Punjab, and Dehradun in Uttarakhand, along with one local resident from Namchi.

Tamang expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased workers, stating, "In this hour of grief, the thoughts and prayers of the entire state are with the bereaved families, and we stand firmly by them during this difficult time."

He assured that he is closely monitoring the rescue operations.

Rescue teams from the Namchi district administration, Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), Sikkim Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Pakyong and Siliguri, along with other specialized agencies, are working diligently to recover the remaining workers trapped in the tunnel.

Following the unfortunate incident, Prime Minister Modi reached out to Tamang to discuss the situation and the ongoing rescue operations.

Tamang noted, "His (PM) words of concern and compassion for the affected workers and their families, along with his assurance of every possible assistance from the Government of India, have provided immense strength and reassurance to the people of Sikkim during this difficult hour."

The Chief Minister also mentioned that Shah contacted him to assess the situation and the rescue efforts.

Tamang briefed him on the ongoing operations and the collaborative efforts being made by the state government with the NDRF and other dedicated agencies.

Shah expressed deep concern regarding the incident and assured all possible support from the central government, which Tamang appreciated.

The Chief Minister has instructed authorities to provide all necessary assistance, accelerate rescue efforts, and ensure that safety standards are strictly adhered to throughout the operation.

On Monday, district officials reported that approximately 27 workers were trapped inside the tunnel after a landslide blocked its entrance and triggered a suspected gas leak.

The rescue operation faced challenges due to the presence of gas within the tunnel, causing several personnel to experience dizziness and lose consciousness while trying to reach the trapped workers.

The gas is believed to be naturally occurring from underground strata or rock formations disturbed by the landslide.