Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said the tunnel of NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung in Jholungey caved in due to a landslide.A total of 25 people, including project officials and workers, were trapped inside the ADIT-3 tunnel when it suddenly collapsed on Monday, he said.
Gangtok: Ten people were killed after a tunnel under construction collapsed due to a landslide in Sikkim’s Namchi district a day ago, police said on Tuesday.
The number of victims could go up as search and rescue operations were underway, a Namchi district official said.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said the tunnel of NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung in Jholungey caved in due to a landslide.
A total of 25 people, including project officials and workers, were trapped inside the ADIT-3 tunnel when it suddenly collapsed on Monday, he said.
The CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with him and enquired about the rescue operations.
“Ten bodies have been recovered till 9.30 am on Tuesday. Seven of the deceased have been identified, while three unidentified bodies were sent to the District Hospital Singtam and STNM Hospital,” the Namchi police said in a statement.
Of the seven identified deceased, four were from West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri, one each from Assam, Punjab and Uttarakhand’s Dehradun, and one was a resident of Namchi, it said.
“My heartfelt condolences go to the families of the workers, who have lost their lives. In this hour of grief, the thoughts and prayers of the entire state are with the bereaved families, and we stand firmly by them during this difficult time,” Tamang said in a statement.
The chief minister said he was closely monitoring the ongoing rescue operation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and took stock of the situation arising out of a tunnel collapse in Namchi district.
The PM announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Namchi District Superintendent of Police Sonam Dolma reported that about 27 people were believed trapped inside the tunnel. Ten bodies have been recovered so far, with most identified, while three remain unidentified.
“According to our current calculations, around 27 people were trapped. This number could fluctuate, but based on our information, it stands at 27. So far, we have recovered 10 bodies. We have identified most of them, though three remain unidentified as the process continues,” Dolma said
She indicated that authorities were contacting the families and guardians of the identified victims to arrange for the handover of the bodies. Among the identified deceased were three individuals from West Bengal, one from Uttarakhand, one from Assam, and one local resident of Namchi district.Assam travel.
Concerning the cause of the incident, Dolma stated that it was premature to draw conclusions and that a detailed inquiry would be necessary.
“The weather has significantly hampered the rescue efforts. Heavy rain since last night caused the tunnel to fill with water, creating difficult conditions for the rescue teams. The interior conditions were already challenging, and the flooding made it worse. However, after draining the water, we have been able to continue the operation,” Dolma explained.
Regarding reports of a possible gas leak, the superintendent of police said a specialised team of chemical and gas experts is being brought from Durgapur and Asansol to assess the situation.
“As for reports of highly flammable gas leaks, we need further investigation to confirm the types of gases involved. A specialised team of chemical and gas experts is currently en route from Durgapur and Asansol. We will have more clarity once they arrive and conduct their assessment,” Dolma stated.
It is too early to determine whether the incident was caused by a landslide.
“At this stage, we haven’t been able to enter the affected area ourselves. Based on the video footage we’ve reviewed, it does not appear to be a landslide. It is too early to provide a definitive comment on the nature of any gas issues until the expert team from Durgapur provides their report and we conduct our own investigation. Our immediate priority remains the ongoing rescue operation,” she added.
On Monday, the district officials had said around 27 workers were trapped inside the tunnel under construction after a landslide blocked its entrance and triggered a suspected gas leak in the afternoon.
The rescue operation had been complicated by the presence of gas inside the tunnel, with several personnel experiencing dizziness and losing consciousness while attempting to reach the trapped workers, they said.
The gas is believed to be naturally emanating from underground strata or rock formations disturbed by the landslide, they said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi spoke with Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, enquiring about the situation and ongoing rescue operations. Shah assured the Chief Minister of all possible assistance in rescue efforts and support for those affected.Politics.
The teams of the Namchi district administration, Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), Sikkim Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Pakyong and Siliguri, along with other specialised agencies, were working tirelessly to recover the bodies of the remaining workers trapped inside the tunnel, Tamang said.
“Following the tragic incident at the under-construction tunnel of the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung, Jholungey, in Namchi District, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with me to enquire about the situation and the ongoing rescue operations,” the chief minister said on X.
Tamang also said, “His (PM) words of concern and compassion for the affected workers and their families, along with his assurance of every possible assistance from the Government of India, have provided immense strength and reassurance to the people of Sikkim during this difficult hour.”
The chief minister said he has directed the authorities to provide every possible assistance, expedite the rescue efforts, and ensure that the highest standards of safety are strictly maintained throughout the operation.