Gangtok: In a major disaster in Sikkim, a methane gas explosion triggered a massive landslide inside an under construction tunnel of the NHPC Teesta Stage 6 Hydroelectric Project in Namchi district, leaving more than 27 workers trapped under debris.
According to initial reports, an estimated 1.5 kilometers of the tunnel had filled with methane gas. The explosion occurred while attempts were being made to flush out the accumulated gas. The blast destabilized the structure, causing a heavy landslide that effectively blocked the tunnel’s pathway with debris. While a few workers miraculously managed to escape the immediate aftermath, over two dozen laborers remain stranded deep inside the compromised structure.
Emergency response units, including the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, local police, and fire brigade personnel, rushed to the site to initiate rescue operations. However, the mission is proving to be exceptionally difficult. District administration officials stated that the presence of highly toxic methane gas, severely restricted space, oxygen depletion, and near zero visibility are turning the rescue effort into a mammoth challenge.
During the initial attempts to reach the trapped men, several fire brigade personnel experienced acute breathing difficulties due to the toxic environment, forcing a temporary halt to the operation. The operation has since resumed, with teams working on a war footing.
To overcome the hazardous conditions, specialized teams equipped with advanced gas protection gear have been called in from neighboring West Bengal to expedite the rescue. Multiple ambulances remain on standby at the site, while rescue personnel donning heavy duty gas masks and protective equipment are continuously trying to breach the blocked passage and reach the trapped workers.
The incident highlights the severe occupational hazards associated with deep tunneling in volatile Himalayan terrains. Rescue agencies are racing against time, as the diminishing oxygen supply and presence of toxic gas pose a grave threat to the survival of the trapped laborers.