What happened
A suspected methane-gas release in an under-construction tunnel of NHPC’s Teesta State-VI hydroelectric project in Sikkim killed at least 20 workers and left 5 others trapped. The blast-like release filled the tunnel with smoke and toxic gases, while rescue work continued despite rainfall affecting operations.
The company said 25 people were inside the tunnel at the time. Seven bodies had been identified, and the victims were reported from West Bengal, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Assam.
Why the incident matters
The incident is an exam-relevant example of how infrastructure expansion can create severe occupational-safety risks when tunnelling work is carried out in hazardous geological conditions. It also raises questions about emergency preparedness, ventilation, monitoring of combustible gases, and coordination between project authorities and rescue agencies.
Background and earlier position
Related current affairs
- Sikkim tunnel tragedy toll rises to 15; rescue operation continues
- What caused the tunnel disaster in Sikkim’s Namchi? How did 25 people die? Why is methane trapped in mountain rocks? Why are the Himalayas fragile?
- 20 dead after blast at under-construction tunnel in Sikkim
- Toxic gas leak: 20 dead, efforts on to rescue 5 (NHPC tunnel incident in Sikkim)
- NHPC’s own paper detailed gas fires in Teesta-VI tunnels before fatal blast
- All is not well: India grapples with another Himalayan tragedy