At least 14 workers have died following a suspected methane gas explosion and subsequent collapse in an under-construction tunnel in India's northeastern Sikkim state. Officials reported on Wednesday that 11 other individuals remain trapped inside the tunnel, where rescue operations are ongoing but hampered by hazardous conditions.
The incident occurred approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) inside the tunnel, which is part of a larger project by the state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to carry water from the Teesta River to a hydropower plant. According to NHPC, the accident was triggered by a sudden burst of suspected methane gas trapped within the rocks, leading to an explosion and the release of dense fumes and toxic gases. The Sikkim government corroborated this, stating the accident was caused by "methane gas combustion."
Methane, a naturally occurring gas, can become trapped underground and pose an explosion risk if released into a confined space and exposed to an ignition source. Of the 27 workers present in different sections of the tunnel at the time of the explosion, two managed to escape.
"Of the 25 people who were trapped, we have recovered 14 bodies so far, and teams are working to locate the 11 other men," stated Superintendent of Police Sonam D Bhutia. Seven victims have been identified, including one from Sikkim and others from the states of West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Assam. Their exact cause of death will be determined by post-mortem examinations.
Rescue teams are concentrating their efforts on a specific 200-meter zone where the remaining missing individuals are believed to be located. The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, has established a special investigation team to determine the exact cause of the incident and to inform subsequent actions.