A four-day search and rescue operation at the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project tunnel in South Sikkim has concluded, with authorities confirming the death of all 25 trapped workers. The operation, which ended on Thursday, was carried out by multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Eastern Coalfields Mine Rescue Team. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay described the incident as ‘extremely tragic’ and stated that he and the Governor had personally visited the site to assess the situation.
The Chief Minister said that immediate instructions were issued to extend all possible assistance to the rescue efforts. Despite the challenges in reaching the exact location, the rescue teams worked together to recover the bodies of the trapped workers. The State Government has announced an ex gratia payment of ₹4 lakh to the families of each deceased person.
An inquiry committee has also been constituted to determine the cause of the blast and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents. The committee will investigate the technical reasons behind the blast and establish the exact cause. The deceased included workers and officials associated with NHPC Limited, ARX, and Patel Engineering Limited, belonging to 10 states across India.
The bodies have been shifted to various hospitals for medico-legal formalities, and the identified bodies have been handed over to their families. The rescue operation was a collaborative effort involving the NDRF, SDRF, Eastern Coalfields Mine Rescue Team, Sikkim Police, Fire and Emergency Services, NHPC, and the district administration. The operation was monitored by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority.
The inquiry committee’s findings will be crucial in determining the cause of the tragedy and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents.
