Sikkim Tunnel Collapse: 7 Workers Dead, 27 Trapped After Landslide Blocks Exit (Videos)
At least seven workers have died and approximately 27 others remain trapped deep inside an under-construction tunnel in Sikkim’s Namchi district following a landslide on Monday afternoon. The incident, which occurred at the Samardung tunnel site near Mamring, blocked the primary exit route and triggered a suspected methane gas leak, severely complicating emergency response efforts.
At least seven workers have died and approximately 27 others remain trapped deep inside an under-construction tunnel in Sikkim’s Namchi district following a landslide on Monday afternoon. The incident, which occurred at the Samardung tunnel site near Mamring, blocked the primary exit route and triggered a suspected methane gas leak, severely complicating emergency response efforts.
According to local authorities, the landslide struck around 3:40 PM, sealing off the entrance while construction crews were working inside. The site forms part of an access tunnel (ADIT) being constructed by Patel Engineering for NHPC's Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Power Project. Seven Fatalities Reported by District Administration: Officials as Rescue Op Continues After Several Trapped in Sikkim Tunnel.
Emergency response operations were immediately launched by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and fire personnel. However, rescue teams encountered immediate hazards from elevated concentrations of underground gases—suspected to be naturally occurring methane released from rock strata disturbed by the shift in terrain.
Several early responders reportedly suffered from dizziness and loss of consciousness due to toxic fumes and low oxygen levels inside the narrow shaft, temporarily halting direct access. The district administration confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered so far and transferred to district hospitals in Singtam, Gangtok, and Namchi. Officials estimate that around 21 workers employed by contractor Patel Engineering and six from NHPC remain unaccounted for inside the shaft, though exact figures are still being verified against site attendance registers.
Specialized disaster management units from neighboring West Bengal equipped with heavy ventilation apparatus, breathing gear, and specialized gas masks have arrived to assist local teams. Officials stated that their immediate objective is restoring air circulation within the tunnel before sending extraction teams deeper into the structure. Several Feared Trapped Inside Tunnel in Sikkim; Rescue Operation Underway.
Under-Construction Tunnel Collapses in Sikkim After Landslide
District Collector Anupa Tamling stated that while the priority remains rescuing all surviving personnel, a full administrative inquiry into the exact cause of the collapse and gas accumulation will follow once the site is stabilized.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2026 07:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).