An explosion in a tunnel, believed to be triggered by methane released from rocks, filled the space with dense fumes and toxic gases. The incident trapped 25 individuals inside the under-construction tunnel at a hydropower project in Samardung, India.
Rescue team members gathered outside the tunnel entrance on Tuesday. The project, managed by the state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corp Ltd. (NHPC), is located on the Teesta river. The incident has resulted in 22 fatalities so far, after seven more bodies were discovered, according to the Sikkim state government.
The explosion occurred on Monday and led to the entrapment of workers and officials from NHPC inside the tunnel. Efforts to locate and recover the remaining victims are ongoing, with specialized teams coordinating the rescue operations.
Authorities initially cautioned that the chances of survival for those trapped were low. Rescue missions have faced challenges from the accumulation of mud and water inside the tunnel. Breathing problems have also been prevalent due to the suspected gas leak.
NHPC announced on Wednesday that it will provide an ex-gratia payment of 500,000 Indian rupees ($5,178) to the families of the deceased victims.
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