The death toll in the Sikkim tunnel collapse has risen to 22, with rescue teams continuing an intensive search for workers who remain missing inside the under-construction Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project in Namchi district. The tragic incident has left families anxiously waiting for news as emergency responders battle dangerous conditions deep inside the tunnel.
The accident occurred after a suspected methane gas explosion inside the head race tunnel, triggering a collapse that trapped workers and project personnel beneath debris. The blast also filled parts of the tunnel with toxic gases, making rescue operations extremely difficult and slowing efforts to reach those still unaccounted for.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, firefighters and project officials have been working round the clock since the accident. However, rescuers have had to proceed cautiously because of unstable debris, poor visibility and the presence of harmful gases, including methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide.
Officials said rescue personnel can enter the tunnel only for limited periods while wearing specialised breathing equipment. Every operation is carefully planned to avoid putting the lives of rescuers at risk.
As more bodies were recovered, grief deepened among the families gathered near the project site. Many relatives have travelled from different parts of the country and have been waiting for updates from authorities, hoping that the missing workers will be found. The rescue camp has become a place of both hope and heartbreak as officials continue their search.
The 500-MW Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project, being developed in Sikkim, is one of the region’s important infrastructure projects. Following the accident, authorities launched a high-level investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and examine whether all required safety measures had been followed during construction.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured them of all possible assistance. The state government has also announced financial support for the victims’ families and said every effort is being made to complete the rescue mission as quickly as possible.
Despite the challenging conditions, rescue teams remain determined to locate every missing worker. Authorities said the operation will continue until everyone trapped inside the tunnel is accounted for, while investigators work to uncover what led to one of the deadliest industrial accidents in Sikkim’s recent history.
NHPC, which is developing the project, said its senior officials are coordinating closely with rescue agencies and the state government. The company has pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation and stated that all available resources have been deployed to support rescue operations.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to worker safety, tunnel construction, and the risks involved in large hydropower projects, especially in the geologically fragile Himalayan region. Experts say underground construction requires continuous monitoring for gas leaks and structural instability to prevent such disasters.
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