An explosion in a tunnel, believed to have been triggered by methane released from rocks, resulted in a deadly situation involving dense fumes and toxic gases. This disaster trapped 25 individuals at an under-construction hydropower project in Samardung, India.
By July 23, 2026, the state government of Sikkim confirmed that seven additional bodies had been recovered from the tunnel. This raised the death toll to 22 in the aftermath of the blast.
The explosion occurred on Monday at the National Hydroelectric Power Corp Ltd.’s project located on the Teesta river. The incident placed workers and officials of NHPC in peril inside the tunnel.
According to a statement by the Sikkim state government on Facebook, rescue operations were ongoing. Specialized teams worked closely to locate and recover the remaining individuals.
Authorities had previously warned that the chances of survival for those trapped remained low. Efforts to reach them were hindered by accumulated mud and water within the tunnel, exacerbated by breathing difficulties caused by the suspected gas release.
The National Hydroelectric Power Corp Ltd. announced on Wednesday that an ex-gratia payment of 500,000 Indian rupees, approximately $5,178, would be provided to the families of the deceased.
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