Gangtok, July 21: A landslide in the under-construction Samardung tunnel in Sikkim’s southern district has led to a methane gas leak, raising fears that around 27 people may be trapped inside. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, prompting a rapid response from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Sikkim police, and fire and emergency services teams, who are currently engaged in rescue operations.
The landslide took place at approximately 3:09 PM in the Samardung tunnel, which is being constructed by Patel Engineering as part of the Teesta Stage-6 hydropower project.
Initial reports indicate that the tunnel was suddenly blocked due to the landslide, trapping several workers inside. The situation worsened when methane gas began to leak within the tunnel, making it extremely hazardous for rescuers to enter.
Namchi District Collector Anupa Tamling stated that upon receiving news of the incident, NDRF teams stationed in Siliguri and Pakyong were immediately alerted. “The incident occurred around 3:09 PM. We informed the NDRF and SDRF teams as we reached Samardung. Fire department personnel and police attempted to enter the tunnel twice without special safety equipment, but they could not reach those trapped due to the dangerous conditions inside,” she said.
Tamling explained that the high levels of methane gas have made the rescue operation particularly challenging. The first NDRF team successfully evacuated fire personnel who had entered the tunnel after the incident. Subsequently, a second NDRF team entered the tunnel, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Officials noted that the gas levels are so high that rescuers have yet to reach the area where the workers are believed to be trapped. Several rescuers had to turn back before establishing contact with those inside.
The administration has not yet determined the exact cause of the landslide. The district collector reported that some workers who managed to escape indicated they heard a loud explosion-like sound from inside, prompting them to flee. However, many others remain trapped within the tunnel.
The exact number of people trapped has not been confirmed. Tamling mentioned, “Initial information suggests that about 19 workers were trapped inside. Later, three employees from Patel Engineering entered the tunnel for rescue, two of whom also became trapped. This raises the total number of people potentially inside to 21. Additionally, six employees from NHPC are also reported to be inside the tunnel, bringing the total to 27. The actual number may be less or more.”
She emphasized that until the NDRF team reaches the exact location of the trapped individuals, the situation inside cannot be confirmed. The district administration has clarified that their primary and foremost priority is to safely rescue all those trapped inside the tunnel.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
