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At least nine people have died and 15 others remain trapped after a tunnel collapse at an under-construction hydroelectric project in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim, officials said on Tuesday.
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The incident occurred on Monday at a tunnel being built for a state-run hydropower project along the Teesta River in the Himalayan region. Rescue teams have been working to reach workers believed to be trapped deep inside the collapsed structure.
Rajiv Roka, director of the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, said authorities estimated that around 25 to 27 people were inside the tunnel when the collapse occurred. Nine bodies have so far been recovered, while rescue operations continue for those still missing.
Officials said the collapse may have been triggered by an explosion, although the exact cause has not yet been determined. Authorities are investigating whether the incident was linked to construction activity or natural factors inside the tunnel.
Rescue efforts have been complicated by the presence of toxic methane gas leaking from underground rock formations. Officials said only specially equipped teams carrying oxygen supplies could safely enter the affected area.
“Aggressive rescue operations are under way, but the problem is there’s a lot of gas present there,” Roka said, highlighting the dangerous conditions facing emergency workers.
A specialised rescue team trained to handle mining-related accidents has also been deployed to assist local authorities. Emergency personnel, ambulances and fire services have been working at the site as operations continue.
The disaster has renewed concerns over safety standards at major infrastructure projects in India’s environmentally sensitive Himalayan regions. Experts and environmental groups have repeatedly warned that extensive construction activities in fragile mountain areas could increase the risk of accidents and ecological damage.
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India has witnessed similar tunnel accidents in recent years. In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after spending 17 days trapped inside a collapsed road tunnel in the northern state of Uttarakhand.
Authorities said rescue operations in Sikkim will continue until all trapped workers are accounted for and the area is declared safe.