A major accident has occurred due to the collapse of an under construction tunnel in Namchi district of Sikkim. So far, bodies of 10 people have been recovered in this incident, while many people are still trapped. President Draupadi Murmu has expressed deep sorrow over this incident.
Namchi (Sikkim) [भारत]July 21 (ANI): President Draupadi Murmu on Tuesday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the tunnel collapse incident in Sikkim’s Namchi district and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. The rescue operation is still going on at the site.
In a post shared on Twitter, the President said, “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives in the tunnel collapse incident in Sikkim. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy rescue and safe evacuation of other workers and speedy recovery of the injured.”
The President further wrote, “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives in the tunnel collapse incident in Sikkim. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy rescue and safe evacuation of other workers and speedy recovery of the injured.” — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 21, 2026
27 people trapped, 10 bodies recovered
The incident occurred on Monday in an under-construction tunnel of the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung in Sikkim’s Namchi district.
According to Namchi District Superintendent of Police Sonam Dolma, about 27 people are feared trapped inside the tunnel, while 10 bodies have been recovered so far.
“As per our current count, around 27 people were trapped. This number may fluctuate, but based on our information it is 27. So far, we have recovered 10 bodies. We have identified most of them, although three are yet to be identified as the process is ongoing,” Dolma said.
He said officials were contacting the families and guardians of the identified victims to arrange for the handing over of the bodies. “Of the bodies recovered and identified, three persons were from West Bengal, one from Uttarakhand, one from Assam and one from Namchi district of Sikkim,” he said.
Weather became a hindrance in the rescue operation
On the cause of the incident, Dolma said it was too early to reach any conclusion and it would require a detailed investigation. He said, “We cannot clarify the exact cause or cause of the incident at this stage. This will require a thorough inquiry and investigation, including expert opinion. Since last night, our primary focus and objective has been to complete the rescue procedures as quickly as possible.”
NDRF teams from Pakyong and Siliguri along with several state agencies are involved in the rescue operation. Dolma said, “Multiple state agencies are at the spot, along with NDRF teams from both Pakyong and Siliguri. In addition to them, the SP is also here at ground zero. The local district police of Rangpo, Pakyong and Singtam were among the first to reach due to proximity. Other departments including the fire service and Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) are fully engaged in the operation.”
The SP said heavy rains had hampered rescue operations, leading to waterlogging of the tunnel and worsening the already difficult conditions. He said, “The weather has greatly hampered rescue efforts. Heavy rains since last night resulted in flooding of the tunnel, creating difficult conditions for rescue teams. Conditions inside were already challenging, and the flooding made it worse. However, after the water was drained, we have been able to continue operations.”
Gas leak is also being investigated
On reports of possible gas leak, Dolma said a special team of chemical and gas experts was being called from Durgapur and Asansol to assess the situation. He said, “As for the reports of highly flammable gas leak, we need further investigation to confirm the types of gases involved. A special team of chemical and gas experts is currently on the way from Durgapur and Asansol. We will have more clarity after they arrive and conduct their assessment.”
The SP also said it was too early to determine whether the incident was caused by a landslide or not. He said, “At this stage, we have not been able to enter the affected area ourselves. Based on the video footage we have seen, it does not appear to be a landslide. Until the expert team from Durgapur submits its report and we conduct our investigation, it is too early to make any definitive comments on the nature of any gas issue. Our immediate priority is the ongoing rescue operations.”
PM Modi announced compensation
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and inquired about the situation and ongoing rescue operations.
Prime Minister Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), while Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured.
Rescue operations are continuing in coordination with Namchi district administration, NHPC officials, SDRF, NDRF, Sikkim Police, fire and emergency services, health department and other line departments. The situation is being closely monitored by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). (ANI)
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