NAMCHI, India—At least seven workers were killed after a tunnel under construction for a hydroelectric project collapsed in India's northeastern state of Sikkim, while rescue teams continued searching for others believed to be trapped, officials said on Tuesday.
The accident occurred on Monday at the Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project in Namchi district after a landslide blocked the entrance to the tunnel. Authorities said the collapse was accompanied by a suspected gas leak, complicating rescue efforts inside the underground passage.
District officials said the seven confirmed victims had been recovered from the site and taken to hospitals in Namchi, Singtam and Gangtok. Rescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Sikkim Police, Fire and Emergency Services and health personnel remained underway.
Authorities initially estimated that around 27 workers were inside the tunnel when the incident occurred, although officials cautioned that the exact number of those trapped was still being verified as emergency teams assessed conditions inside. Namchi District Collector Anupa Tamling said rescue personnel had entered the tunnel and that a clearer picture would emerge once they completed their assessment.
Officials said hazardous gases, low oxygen levels, poor visibility and the narrow tunnel environment had slowed rescue efforts. Heavy rainfall and unstable ground conditions also posed additional risks to emergency crews working at the site.
The tunnel forms part of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation's (NHPC) Teesta Stage VI hydropower project in Sikkim. Authorities have not confirmed the precise cause of the collapse, and any investigation into the incident is expected to proceed after rescue operations are completed. Preliminary reports cited a suspected gas leak, but officials have not announced definitive findings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of those killed and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The Prime Minister's Office said the next of kin of each deceased would receive 200,000 rupees ($2,300), while those injured would receive 50,000 rupees.
As of Tuesday, rescue teams remained at the scene, and authorities said operations would continue until all missing workers had been accounted for. Officials said casualty figures and the number of people trapped could change as search efforts progressed.
