Gangtok: A major accident took place in Namchi district of Sikkim on Monday afternoon. Due to the landslide here, the entrance of the Samardung Road Tunnel under construction was blocked by debris, due to which at least 27 laborers working inside the tunnel got trapped. After the incident, there was chaos in the area and immediate relief and rescue operation was started. Suspected methane gas leakage within the tunnel has further complicated the rescue operation. The district administration has started relief and rescue operations on war footing to evacuate all the laborers safely.
Patel Engineering and NHPC employees trapped
Namchi District Collector Anupa Tamling said that at present the number of laborers trapped in the tunnel is being ascertained. According to initial information, 21 employees of Patel Engineering and 6 employees of NHPC, i.e. a total of 27 people are trapped inside the tunnel. The administration received information about the incident at around 3:40 pm, immediately after which the rescue team reached the spot and the rescue operation was started.
Difficulty increased due to methane gas and narrow tunnel
According to officials, there is a possibility of natural release of methane gas inside the tunnel due to movement of underground rocks and layers after the landslide. The rescue operation is becoming increasingly difficult due to the presence of methane gas, narrow path of the tunnel and very low visibility. Rescue workers are facing many difficulties while trying to reach the workers trapped in the tunnel. As soon as the rescue workers entered the tunnel, they started feeling dizzy and some even fainted.
Many agencies including NDRF-SDRF gathered
Teams of NDRF, SDRF, District Police and Fire and Emergency Services are engaged in the rescue operation. Besides this, a special rescue team from West Bengal equipped with anti-gas equipment has also reached the spot. Ambulances have been put on alert mode while rescue workers with gas masks and other safety equipment are attempting to reach inside the tunnel. In one such incident, in the year 2023, 41 laborers were trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel of Uttarkashi, who were taken out after a difficult rescue operation about two weeks later.
The tunnel is part of Teesta Stage-6 Hydroelectric Project.
Officials said that this tunnel is part of the ADIT tunnel being built for NHPC’s Teesta Stage-6 hydropower project, which is being constructed by Patel Engineering. The district administration says that at present the priority is to get all the trapped laborers out safely. After this, a detailed investigation will be conducted into the causes of the accident. (Input-PTI)
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