Rescue personnel of NDRF, SDRF and other agencies carry out search and rescue operations at the site of the NHPC tunnel collapse, in Namchi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The death toll in the Sikkim tunnel disaster rose to 15 on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), as multiple agencies continued search and rescue operations for the remaining 10 workers inside.
According to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC), 25 were trapped after the sudden release of suspected methane gas caused an explosion inside the under-construction head race tunnel for its Teesta State-VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung in Sikkim’s Namchi district. The accident occurred at 1.04 p.m. on July 20.
In a statement on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), the NHPC said rescue operations were continuing round the clock in close coordination with the Namchi district administration, the National Disaster Response Force, the State Disaster Response Force, Patel Engineering Limited, Eastern Coalfields Limited, Western Coalfields Limited, local authorities, and other agencies.
“Of the 25 personnel trapped inside the tunnel, 13 bodies have been retrieved so far. Every possible effort continues to be made to locate the remaining personnel,” said the statement issued in the afternoon. Later in the day, Namchi’s District Magistrate Anupa Tamling said two more bodies were retrieved from the tunnel. “The toll is 15 now,” she told The Hindu.
Announcing an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, the NHPC also said its top officials were present at the site, closely monitoring and coordinating the rescue operations.
Slush hampers search
The Sikkim government said rainfall and the accumulation of large volumes of mud and water inside the tunnel had briefly hampered the search.
“Rescue teams continue to carry out intensive search and recovery operations under extremely challenging conditions, with sustained efforts focused on locating the remaining trapped persons,” a government spokesperson said.
On Tuesday (July 21, 2026), Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the ongoing rescue operations. Both assured Mr. Tamang of all possible assistance from the Centre.
Published – July 22, 2026 06:40 pm IST
