Twelve people are confirmed dead and others are missing after an explosion in an under-construction tunnel at the Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim, north-east India, on Monday.
Project developer NHPC said 25 people were working in the head race tunnel at the time of the explosion. It is suspected the blast was caused by methane gas embedded in rocks.
NHPC said the project team was working with the district administration, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and other emergency agencies to help in rescue operations. A special rescue team from the Directorate General Mines-Safety is also involved in the rescue.
India’s prime minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh for the next of kin and Rs. 50,000. for injured workers.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay said he was deeply saddened by the incident and appealed to people to remain calm and “avoid spreading unverified information”.
“We remain committed to doing everything possible to bring the rescue operation to a safe and successful conclusion,” he said.
