The four-day search and rescue operation at the under-construction tunnel of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Teesta Stage VI Hydropower Project at Samardung in Jholungey, under Sikkim’s Namchi district, concluded on Thursday, July 23, with rescue teams recovering all 25 workers and officials who had been reported missing following the tunnel incident.
According to the Namchi District Administration, three more bodies were recovered during the final phase of the operation, taking the total number of deceased recovered to 25. Rescue teams subsequently carried out a thorough inspection of the tunnel and confirmed that no one remained trapped inside after reconciling the records of all those reported missing.
The deceased included employees and workers associated with NHPC Limited, ARX and Patel Engineering Limited. They hailed from ten states, comprising 11 from West Bengal, four from Jharkhand, two each from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, and one each from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Punjab and Assam.
Authorities said all recovered bodies were shifted to Singtam District Hospital, STNM Hospital at Sochakgang in Gangtok, Namchi District Hospital and the Central Referral Hospital (CRH), Manipal, for medico-legal formalities. The identified bodies have since been handed over to their respective families.
The Sikkim government has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the cause and circumstances of the incident. The panel has also been entrusted with recommending measures to prevent similar accidents at infrastructure projects in the future.
The rescue operation was conducted under the supervision of the Namchi District Administration with support from multiple agencies, including NHPC officials, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Mines Rescue Team of Eastern Coalfields Limited, Asansol, Sikkim Police, Fire and Emergency Services, the Health and Family Welfare Department and other line departments. The operation was closely monitored by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA).
Following the successful completion of the mission, the district administration expressed gratitude to all participating agencies and personnel for their coordinated efforts, professionalism and dedication in carrying out the challenging search and recovery operation.
