Tunnel Collapse at Indian Hydropower Construction Site Leaves 25 Dead or Missing

A tunnel collapse triggered by a methane gas explosion at a hydropower plant construction site in the Himalayan mountain range of Sikkim, northeastern India, has left at least 12 people dead and 13 others missing.

According to NHPC Limited (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation), the explosion occurred at around noon yesterday (the 21st) inside a construction tunnel at the company's hydropower project along the Teesta River in Sikkim, causing a partial collapse of the structure.

Nineteen workers who were laboring inside the tunnel were buried, while six power plant employees who entered the tunnel to assist in rescue operations were also trapped.

Rescue teams have recovered 12 bodies and are conducting search operations to rescue the remaining 13 people.

The company stated that the explosion occurred when gas, presumed to be methane trapped within the rock strata, suddenly erupted.

A rescue official noted that toxic gases such as methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide have been detected inside the tunnel. The official added that rescue operations are facing severe difficulties as toxic gases emanating from the rock make the situation so dangerous that rescuers can only enter the site in shifts for about 15 minutes at a time, even while carrying oxygen tanks.

Local authorities expressed concern that the chances of finding any survivors among the buried individuals are extremely low due to the toxic gases.

In India, amid rapid infrastructure development, construction site accidents frequently occur due to issues such as fragile geological structures, poor construction, extreme weather, and low safety standards.

The Associated Press reported that the Himalayan region, in particular, has an unstable subterranean environment due to steep mountainous terrain and active seismic activity, posing a high risk of accidents during tunnel construction.

In February last year, an explosion at a coal mine in Meghalaya, northeastern India, killed 30 miners, while in 2023, a tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand, northern India, trapped 41 workers for 17 days before they were rescued.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.