Fresh information emerging from the Samardung tunnel tragedy in Sikkim’s Namchi district indicates that the incident may have been caused by a methane gas explosion during excavation rather than a landslide, as initially reported. Rescue teams have recovered 10 bodies and are continuing the search for workers still feared trapped.
According to sources at the project site, the incident occurred when excavation work struck rock formations containing trapped methane gas, triggering an explosion that was followed by a massive methane gas leak inside the under-construction tunnel. The gas rapidly spread through the tunnel, leaving workers with little chance to escape and severely hampering rescue operations.
Rescue personnel who initially entered the tunnel were forced to retreat due to the high concentration of methane before they could reach those trapped inside. The workers feared trapped are from different parts of the country, including Jharkhand, Assam, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. A similar methane gas leak incident allegedly occurred around four months ago, but it was relatively minor, with a few workers reportedly sustaining first-degree burn injuries to their hands.
Further indications supporting the methane explosion theory emerged after rescue teams recovered bodies bearing extensive burn injuries rather than injuries associated with being buried under debris. The victims were not found trapped beneath collapsed earth or rocks, lending weight to reports that the incident was triggered by a methane gas explosion during excavation rather than a landslide.
The Samardung tunnel is part of the under-construction Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project in Namchi district. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has informed that the authorities have constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the cause of the tunnel disaster. The Chief Minister has announced an ex-gratia of four lakh rupees for the families of the deceased, and fifty thousand rupees for those injured.
As of 9:30 am on Tuesday, rescue teams had recovered 10 bodies from the tunnel, which have been shifted to Namchi District Hospital, STNM Hospital, and Singtam District Hospital for further procedures. Another National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has entered the tunnel to continue search and rescue operations for the remaining workers feared trapped.
