Indian authorities have recovered the bodies of the remaining 13 workers trapped inside a collapsed hydropower tunnel in Sikkim, bringing the death toll to 25 and formally ending rescue operations after four days of intense, hazardous work. The disaster was triggered by a methane gas explosion on Monday at the 500‑megawatt Teesta Hydroelectric Project, located about 40 kilometers south of Gangtok in the Himalayan foothills.
Rescue teams from multiple agencies battled toxic gas, unstable rock formations and treacherous underground conditions as they searched for dozens of trapped workers. After the final bodies were retrieved, officials conducted a last inspection of the tunnel, confirming no one remained inside, according to a statement from the Sikkim state government.
The government has now formed a high‑level committee to investigate the explosion and recommend stronger safeguards to prevent similar tragedies. Construction accidents remain distressingly common in India, where rapid infrastructure expansion often collides with fragile geology, extreme weather and inconsistent safety standards.
Experts have long warned that the Teesta River basin is one of the country’s most dangerous regions for tunnel construction. The area is seismically active, with young, fractured rock formations and underground pockets capable of trapping ancient gases conditions that make methane buildup and sudden explosions more likely.
Experts have long warned that the Teesta River basin is one of the country’s most dangerous regions for tunnel construction. The area is seismically active, with young, fractured rock formations and underground pockets capable of trapping ancient gases conditions that make methane buildup and sudden explosions more likely.
The Sikkim disaster follows a series of deadly incidents across India’s mining and infrastructure sectors. In February, an explosion at a coal mine in Meghalaya killed 18 workers. In 2023, a tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand trapped 41 workers for 17 days before a dramatic rescue.
As India continues to push major hydropower and infrastructure projects across the Himalayas, the tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger safety protocols and deeper geological assessments.
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