New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the tragic loss of life following the collapse of an under-construction tunnel in Sikkim’s Namchi district, announcing financial relief from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Under the sanctioned package, the next of kin of each deceased victim will receive an ex-gratia payment of two lakh rupees, while those injured in the incident will receive fifty thousand rupees. Central leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi, spoke directly with Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang to evaluate ground conditions and assure complete federal logistical support for ongoing disaster relief efforts.
The tragic incident took place at the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project site located near Samardung. Namchi District Superintendent of Police Sonam Dolma confirmed that search teams have recovered ten bodies from the site, while approximately twenty-seven workers were initially estimated to have been trapped inside the subterranean shaft. Authorities have successfully identified several of the deceased, confirming that the victims include migrant workers from West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Assam, as well as local residents from the Namchi district. Local administration officials are currently in contact with the bereaved families to facilitate the handover of the remains.
Rescue efforts at ground zero involve a massive multi-agency response comprising National Disaster Response Force personnel from Pakyong and Siliguri, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, local police, and emergency fire services. Operations have faced severe environmental obstacles, as heavy overnight rainfall caused floodwaters to inundate the compromised tunnel shaft. Specialized pumping equipment was deployed to drain the submerged sections before rescue workers could safely resume subterranean search activities.
Adding to the complexity of the operation, reports of potentially hazardous gas accumulation inside the shaft have prompted authorities to call in specialized chemical and gas experts from Durgapur and Asansol to conduct comprehensive atmospheric tests. Law enforcement officials emphasized that while initial video assessments do not immediately point to a surface landslide, a full inquiry will be conducted once emergency operations conclude. For now, rescue teams remain focused on clearing debris, securing the tunnel structure, and locating the remaining trapped workers.
