India News | President Murmu Condoles Sikkim Tunnel Collapse Deaths, Prays for Speedy Rescue of Trapped Workers

Namchi (Sikkim) [India], July 21 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the tunnel collapse incident in Sikkim's Namchi district and extended condolences to the bereaved families, as rescue operations continued at the site.

In a post shared on X, the President said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives in an incident of tunnel collapse in Sikkim. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy rescue and safe evacuation of the other workers and quick recovery of the injured."

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The incident occurred at an under-construction tunnel of the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung in Sikkim's Namchi district on Monday.

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According to Namchi District Superintendent of Police Sonam Dolma, around 27 people are believed to have been trapped inside the tunnel, while 10 bodies have been recovered so far.

"According to our current calculations, around 27 people were trapped. This number could fluctuate, but based on our information, it stands at 27. So far, we have recovered 10 bodies. We have identified most of them, though three remain unidentified as the process continues," Dolma said.

She said authorities were contacting the families and guardians of the identified victims to arrange for the handover of the bodies.

"Among the recovered and identified bodies, three individuals were from West Bengal, one from Uttarakhand, one from Assam, and one was local to the Namchi district in Sikkim," she said.

On the cause of the incident, Dolma said it was too early to draw any conclusions and that a detailed inquiry would be required.

"We cannot specify the exact cause or reason for the incident at this stage. A full inquiry and investigation, including expert opinions, will be required. Since last night, our primary focus and objective has been to complete the rescue procedures as quickly as possible," she said.

Multiple state agencies, along with NDRF teams from Pakyong and Siliguri, are involved in the rescue operation.

"Multiple state agencies are on-site, along with NDRF teams from both Pakyong and Siliguri. Their Additional SP is also here at ground zero. Local district police from Rangpo, Pakyong, and Singtam were among the first to arrive due to their proximity. Other departments, including the Fire Service and the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), are fully engaged in the operation," Dolma said.

The SP said heavy rainfall had hampered the rescue operation, with water entering the tunnel and worsening the already difficult conditions.

"The weather has significantly hampered the rescue efforts. Heavy rain since last night caused the tunnel to fill with water, creating difficult conditions for the rescue teams. The interior conditions were already challenging, and the flooding made it worse. However, after draining the water, we have been able to continue the operation," she said.

On reports of a possible gas leak, Dolma said a specialised team of chemical and gas experts from Durgapur and Asansol was being brought in to assess the situation.

"As for reports of highly flammable gas leaks, we need further investigation to confirm the types of gases involved. A specialised team of chemical and gas experts is currently en route from Durgapur and Asansol. We will have more clarity once they arrive and conduct their assessment," she said.

The SP also said it was too early to determine whether the incident was caused by a landslide.

"At this stage, we haven't been able to enter the affected area ourselves. Based on the video footage we've reviewed, it does not appear to be a landslide. It is too early to provide a definitive comment on the nature of any gas issues until the expert team from Durgapur provides their report and we conduct our own investigation. Our immediate priority remains the ongoing rescue operation," she said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and enquired about the situation and ongoing rescue operations.

Prime Minister Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased, while the injured would be given Rs 50,000.

The Namchi District Administration, in coordination with NHPC officials, SDRF, NDRF, Sikkim Police, Fire and Emergency Services, the Health Department and other line departments, is continuing the rescue operation.

The situation is being closely monitored by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)