Sikkim Tunnel Tragedy: Seven Bodies Found, Around 20 Still Trapped

Gangtok: Seven bodies have been recovered after a landslide inside a tunnel construction site in Sikkim triggered a methane gas leak, with around 20 people feared still trapped inside. Rescue operations led by the NDRF and other forces are under way.

The accident occurred at around 3.09 pm on Monday inside the Samardung tunnel in South Sikkim, being built by Pargel Engineering Company as part of the Teesta Stage VI hydroelectric project. A landslide inside the tunnel blocked the passage and trapped several workers. A subsequent methane gas leak has significantly complicated the rescue effort, with rescuers unable to enter the affected area safely due to high gas levels.

Workers who managed to escape said they heard a loud explosion-like sound from inside the tunnel before fleeing. Some rescue personnel who attempted to enter in the initial phase suffered discomfort after inhaling methane but have been safely evacuated and taken to hospital.

Initially, 19 workers were reported to have been trapped. The number is now believed to be around 27, including Pargel Engineering employees and others who went inside for the rescue. With seven bodies recovered, the authorities are now searching for the rest. The NDRF, SDRF and Sikkim Police are leading the operations, with the exact figure to be confirmed only once rescue teams reach the site.