At least nine people died after a tunnel under construction in Namchi, Sikkim, collapsed on Tuesday [3].

The incident occurred at the NHPC Teesta Stage VI hydroelectric project, where rescue teams are currently working to locate dozens of missing workers. The disaster highlights the extreme risks associated with large-scale infrastructure projects in the landslide-prone terrain of the Himalayas.

Reports on the casualties vary among sources. One report states 10 people were killed [1], while another lists the death toll at nine [3]. Rescue operations are focused on finding those still inside the tunnel, with estimates of trapped workers ranging from more than 15 [3] to over 27 [1].

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are leading the search effort. Rescue operations were initially hampered by high methane levels inside the tunnel [2]. Officials said they are investigating whether a landslide triggered a gas leak that led to a blast or the subsequent collapse [2], [3].

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have monitored the situation. The government announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured [6].

Local authorities said the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation. The site is being monitored for further instability to ensure the safety of the rescue personnel.

“Rescue operations were initially hampered by high methane levels inside the tunnel.”

The collapse at the Teesta Stage VI project underscores the geological volatility of Sikkim, where the intersection of hydroelectric ambition and unstable terrain often leads to industrial accidents. The presence of methane suggests that tunneling in this region may encounter unpredictable pockets of gas, potentially requiring more stringent safety protocols and advanced geological surveying to prevent similar fatalities in future Himalayan infrastructure projects.