Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: A methane gas explosion at the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI hydropower project in Sikkim has killed 11 workers. The blast ripped through an under-construction tunnel at Samardung near Jholungey around midday on Monday. It triggered a massive landslide. The debris cut off the exit route. It trapped workers 1.5 to 3 kilometers deep inside the structure.
Recovery efforts remain slow. Hazardous conditions dominate the site. Low oxygen levels and toxic fumes forced Rangpo Fire and Emergency Services to pull back after several rescuers fell ill. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams also struggled with unstable ground and poor air quality. Officials have located eight additional bodies inside the tunnel. Recovery of those remains is underway.
Namchi Deputy Commissioner Anupa Tamling revised the count of trapped individuals after verifying attendance records. The exact number of people inside remains under investigation. Victims include personnel from NHPC and Patel Engineering. Identified workers hail from West Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang visited the site on Tuesday. Governor Om Prakash Mathur also inspected the area. The state government formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the blast. A chemical analysis team arrived to test gas levels and excavation procedures. "My heartfelt condolences go to the families of the workers who have lost their lives," Tamang said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Chief Minister to coordinate support. The Centre pledged full assistance. The Prime Minister announced Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for families of the deceased. Injured workers receive Rs 50,000. Additionally, the state will pay Rs 4 lakh in ex gratia to each family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force, Sikkim Police, and local volunteers continue to work round the clock.
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