12 Workers Die in Sikkim Tunnel Collapse After Methane Gas Explosion

New Delhi. 12 workers have died in the collapse of a tunnel under construction in India's northeastern state of Sikkim. At least 12 workers have died when a part of the tunnel collapsed after a methane gas explosion inside the tunnel. 

Officials have stated that the search and rescue operation for 13 people trapped inside the tunnel is still ongoing after the incident. According to India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the accident occurred about 1.5 kilometers inside the tunnel.

The tunnel was being constructed to bring water from the Teesta River to the power project's turbine. This project is being constructed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), which is owned by the Government of India.

According to NHPC, methane gas trapped inside the rock suddenly escaped and exploded, spreading thick smoke and poisonous gas. The Sikkim government has also stated that the cause of the accident was the combustion of methane gas. Methane is a gas found naturally underground. 

Government officials have said that if this gas escapes during tunneling and comes into contact with any spark or fire, it can explode. When the accident occurred, 27 workers were working in different parts of the tunnel. Two of them managed to escape safely, while 25 were trapped inside the tunnel.

According to Sikkim's Director General of Police Sonam D Bhutia, the bodies of 12 people have been recovered so far, while the search for the remaining 13 is ongoing. The police have stated that 7 bodies have been identified so far. One of the deceased is a local resident of Sikkim, while others are laborers from West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Assam. Officials have said that the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem.

According to NDRF official Mohsen Shahedi, the remaining workers are estimated to be trapped in a section of the tunnel about 200 meters long. Rescue teams are conducting a special search operation in the same area. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has formed a special investigation team to probe the incident. 

"A team of experts has been deployed to find out what happened and how it happened. Necessary action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation," he told reporters.