NHPC Teesta-VI tunnel mishap: One more body retrieved, dozen workers still missing

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK,: Despite challenging on-ground conditions, search teams on Wednesday retrieved one more body from the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI head race tunnel at Jholungey, Samardung, in Namchi district.

So far, 13 bodies have been recovered from the under-construction tunnel following a suspected methane gas explosion on Monday afternoon. Around a dozen workers are still missing about 1.5 km inside the tunnel and are feared dead.

According to the Namchi district administration, search and rescue operations were initially hampered by the accumulation of large volumes of mud and water inside the tunnel.

With conditions inside the tunnel improving, personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Asansol Rescue Team and other emergency response agencies resumed operations with full intensity.

Rescue teams continue to carry out intensive search and recovery operations under extremely challenging conditions, with sustained efforts focused on locating and retrieving the remaining trapped persons, according to an IPR release from Namchi.

Meanwhile, NHPC has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs. 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased in the incident. In a media statement, NHPC said its top management is present at the site, closely monitoring and coordinating the rescue operations with all agencies involved.

Four bodies recovered from the tunnel site have been brought to STNM Hospital in Gangtok for post-mortem examination and identification.

According to hospital officials, one victim has been identified as Shyam Oran (31) of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. The deceased's identity was confirmed by family members through distinctive tattoos and a steel kada.

Efforts are on to establish the identities of the three other deceased persons brought to STNM Hospital.

According to information shared with the local media by the STNM Hospital administration, preliminary findings indicate death due to asphyxiation, likely caused by methane gas exposure, along with burn injuries to the chest and other trauma caused by falling debris inside the tunnel.

NHPC had earlier stated that the tunnel mishap occurred following a sudden burst of suspected methane gas trapped inside the rocks, leading to an explosion that generated dense fumes and toxic gases.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay has announced that a high-level inquiry committee will be set up to examine the reasons behind the NHPC tunnel mishap.

The affected workers are reported to be from Jharkhand, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim. One of the deceased, who was working as a driver, is reported to be from South Sikkim.