Sikkim Tunnel Collapse: Death Toll Rises To 22 As Search Underway To Locate Missing Workers
Sikkim Tunnel Collapse: Death Toll Rises To 22 As Search Underway To Locate Missing Workers Published By, Last Updated: July 23, 2026, 09:21 IST A
Sikkim Tunnel Collapse: Death Toll Rises To 22 As Search Underway To Locate Missing Workers Published By, Last Updated: July 23, 2026, 09:21 IST A pocket of methane gas trapped in the rock strata reportedly burst inside the head race tunnel (HRT) of the Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project, resulting in multiple casualties Resuce operation underway after a collapse inside the under-construction NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project tunnel, in Namchi. (PTI photo) The death toll in the NHPC tunnel collapse in Sikkim’s Namchi district has risen to 22, as search and rescue operations remain ongoing at the affected site, with efforts underway to locate and recover the remaining victims. On Monday, July 20, a pocket of methane gas trapped in the rock strata reportedly burst inside the seven-kilometre-long head race tunnel (HRT) of the Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project, leading to an explosion and resulting in multiple casualties. According to an official, the bodies of 22 individuals have been recovered from the tunnel.
Specialised rescue teams are carrying out operations to locate and recover the rest of the victims trapped inside the tunnel. At around 10 PM on Wednesday, July 22, a second rescue team from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Asansol, arrived at the incident site and joined the ongoing rescue operations at the site. Alongside Eastern Coalfields Ltd, personnel from the Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Sikkim Police, Army, district administration, NHPC, Patel Engineering Ltd, and Western Coalfields Ltd are engaged in the rescue operation. An official said it was not immediately clear at the moment how many more individuals were stranded inside the tunnel. However, he said the teams were prioritising recovering the bodies. “We are trying to retrieve the visible bodies. At this stage, we do not know how many more are trapped deeper inside. Our priority is recovering the bodies we can see, but accumulated water makes movement very difficult," Abhijit Kundu, Superintendent, Eastern Coalfields Ltd, told the Indian Express.
The State Government, district administration, and all concerned agencies continue to closely monitor the situation, while also extending all possible assistance required by the rescue teams and affected families. An official earlier said that many of those killed in the incident were residents of West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district. Meanwhile, the NHPC announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased. As part of the Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project, the tunnel is being constructed to channel high-pressure water from the reservoir to the powerhouse. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What caused the methane gas to accumulate in the tunnel? A pocket of methane gas trapped in the rock strata reportedly burst inside the tunnel. Methane is a naturally occurring gas formed by the decomposition of organic matter over millions of years. How will the NHPC prevent future tunnel collapses?
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