Nine killed, 15 remain trapped after tunnel collapse in India’s remote northeast

NEW DELHI: A tunnel collapse at an under-construction hydropower project in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim has left at least nine workers dead, while 15 others remained trapped, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on Monday at a state-run hydroelectric project on the Teesta river, where workers were building a tunnel in the Himalayan state. Rajiv Roka, director of the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, said the number of people caught inside was initially estimated at between 25 and 27, and that nine bodies had so far been recovered.

Speaking about the rescue operation, Roka said teams were facing severe difficulties because methane gas leaking from underground rock formations had built up inside the tunnel. The gas has restricted entry to rescuers equipped with oxygen gear, complicating efforts to reach those still trapped.

Roka said authorities had not yet established what caused the blast believed to have triggered the collapse, as it occurred deep inside the tunnel. He added that the incident was most probably natural. The area has also experienced torrential monsoon rains in recent days.

A specialised team trained to respond to mining accidents has been flown in to support the rescue effort, according to Roka. He said operations were continuing despite the hazardous conditions underground.

Large infrastructure construction accidents are common in India. Ecologists have also said that intensive development in the fragile Himalayan region has contributed to a rise in such disasters.

In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after spending 17 days trapped in a collapsed Himalayan road tunnel in the northern state of Uttarakhand.