An explosion occurred in a tunnel at an under-construction hydroelectric project in Sikkim, India. The blast is suspected to have been triggered by methane trapped in or released from rocks. This filled the tunnel with dense fumes and toxic gases, entrapping 25 individuals.
On Tuesday, rescue team members gathered outside the tunnel entrance at the Samardung hydropower project. Located on the Teesta River, the project is managed by the state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corp Ltd. (NHPC).
As of Thursday, at least seven more bodies were recovered from the site. The incident death toll rose to 22, according to the state government.
The explosion in the tunnel presented significant challenges. Dense fumes, toxic gases, and accumulated mud and water inside the tunnel hindered rescue operations. Breathing difficulties due to the suspected gas leak further complicated efforts.
The Sikkim state government stated in a Facebook post, “Rescue operations remain in progress, with specialized teams working in close coordination to locate and recover the remaining victims.” Authorities had earlier warned of slim survival chances for those trapped.
On Wednesday, NHPC announced it would provide 500,000 Indian rupees ($5,178) as ex-gratia relief to the families of the deceased.