Rescue efforts to free 13 workers trapped inside a collapsed hydropower tunnel in India are being hampered by the presence of toxic gas, authorities reported Tuesday. The workers have been confined to the tunnel since the collapse occurred.
Specialized teams are working to mitigate the gas hazard, which poses a significant risk to both the trapped workers and the rescue personnel. The exact nature and concentration of the toxic gas have not been fully disclosed, but its presence has necessitated extreme caution and slowed down the deployment of equipment and personnel into the affected area.
The tunnel is part of a hydropower project located in Samardung village, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Gangtok, the capital of the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim. The collapse trapped the workers, and the subsequent release or presence of toxic gas has added a critical and dangerous dimension to the ongoing rescue operation.