Sikkim Tunnel Collapse: 22 Bodies Recovered, Search On For 3 Missing Workers

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bodies of 22 workers have been recovered from the under-construction NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydropower Project tunnel in Sikkim's Namchi district, officials said on Thursday.A total of 25 workers were inside the tunnel when it collapsed shortly after 1 pm on Monday. According to NHPC, the collapse was triggered by an explosion that is suspected to have been caused by methane gas trapped inside the rocks.Rescue teams are still searching for the remaining three workers.

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Rescue Operation Continues

A state government official said specialised rescue teams are continuing the operation in coordination with different agencies."The Sikkim government, district administration, and all concerned agencies continue to closely monitor the situation, while extending every possible support to the rescue teams and the affected families," the official said.Earlier, Namchi Superintendent of Police Sonam D Bhutia had confirmed that most of the trapped workers had died."Out of the 25 trapped inside the tunnel, 20 are confirmed dead," Bhutia had said on Tuesday.

Victims Identified, Compensation Announced

Officials said eight of the recovered bodies had been identified till Wednesday. Four victims were from West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, while one each belonged to Punjab, Uttarakhand, Assam and Sikkim.Another official said at least four workers from Jharkhand's Khunti, Hazaribag and West Singhbhum districts were also employed at the project.NHPC has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased worker.Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has announced Rs 4 lakh as compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for each injured worker.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.According to an NHPC statement, the accident was caused by a sudden burst of methane gas trapped inside the rocks.The explosion filled the tunnel with dense fumes and toxic gases, leading to the deadly collapse, the company said.