AT LEAST 10 DEAD IN TUNNEL COLLAPSE AT INDIAN HYDROPOWER PROJECT

At least 10 people were killed and 17 others remain missing after a suspected gas explosion triggered a tunnel collapse at a hydropower construction site in Sikkim, northeastern India, on Monday. The blast occurred at Samardung village, approximately 40 kilometres from the state capital Gangtok, at the 500-megawatt Teesta hydroelectric project operated by the state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). Survivors reported hearing a loud explosion before debris collapsed through the tunnel, trapping dozens of workers inside. Six NHPC officials who entered the tunnel to assist in rescue efforts became trapped themselves, according to officials.

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force have faced significant obstacles in reaching those trapped. Toxic gases including methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide accumulated inside the tunnel, forcing rescue personnel to use specialised breathing equipment during search operations. According to NDRF official Nitin Kumar, hazardous air conditions have substantially hindered rescue efforts. Local police chief Sonam Dolma confirmed that 10 bodies had been recovered whilst 17 people were feared to remain trapped.

The Teesta River basin, where the project is situated, lies in a seismically active region characterised by young, fragile rock formations with fractures and underground pockets that can contain ancient gases, according to geological experts. Construction accidents remain relatively common in India, where rapid infrastructure development often intersects with challenging terrain, geological instability and seismic activity. A comparable incident occurred in 2023 when a tunnel section in Uttarakhand state collapsed, trapping 41 workers for 17 days before their rescue.