A suspected gas explosion causes a tunnel collapse inside a hydropower project under construction in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim, near the China border, officials report. Multiple outlets say the blast occurs on Monday (local time) at the site near Samardung village, about 40 km from Gangtok, where workers are carrying out construction on the Teesta hydropower project. The incident kills at least 10 people, with later reports citing 11 deaths, and leaves additional workers missing. Estimates of the missing range from 14 to 17, depending on the outlet and update timing.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang visits the site and says the explosion was triggered by a build-up of methane gas. Civil officials say survivors heard a loud explosion followed by debris falling into the tunnel. Reports also describe challenges for rescue teams because of hazardous conditions inside the tunnel. Some workers are said to have been trapped after the blast, including people who entered to help with rescue efforts, while at least a small number escape. Rescue efforts involve Indian disaster response forces, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
