Sikkim tunnel collapse death toll climbs to 13 at NHPC Teesta Stage-VI project
Synopsis
The death toll in the Sikkim tunnel collapse at the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project has climbed to 13, with rescue operations temporarily halted due to dangerous mud and water buildup inside the Samardung tunnel. Only one of the 13 victims has been identified so far, and NDRF teams remain on standby as conditions remain treacherous.
Key Takeaways
The death toll at the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project tunnel collapse in Sikkim's Namchi district has risen to 13 as of 22 July .
The latest body was recovered from the Samardung tunnel in Jholungey during ongoing search operations.
Only one victim has been identified: Shyam Oraon, 31 , from Indong Tea Estate, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal .
Preliminary post-mortem indicates death by asphyxia .
Rescue operations were temporarily suspended due to dangerous accumulation of mud and water inside the tunnel.
NDRF , the Asansol Rescue Team , and other agencies remain on site and are prepared to resume operations as soon as conditions allow.
The death toll in the tunnel collapse at the under-construction NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project in Sikkim's Namchi district rose to 13 on Wednesday, 22 July, after rescue teams recovered one more body from the Samardung tunnel in Jholungey, officials confirmed. The tragedy has emerged as one of the deadliest industrial disasters in the state in recent years.
Latest Recovery and Victim Identification
The body was retrieved during the ongoing search operation at the Samardung tunnel, where multiple workers remained trapped following the initial incident. Authorities said all recovered bodies have been transferred to hospitals for identification and post-mortem examinations.
Four bodies were brought to Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital in Gangtok, while the remaining have been sent to Namchi District Hospital and Singtam District Hospital. So far, only one victim has been formally identified — 31-year-old Shyam Oraon, a resident of Indong Tea Estate in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district.
Additional Medical Superintendent of STNM Hospital, Suresh Madan Rasaily, said preliminary post-mortem findings indicated that Oraon died due to asphyxia, with additional injuries including burn injuries also noted on the body.
Rescue Operations Suspended Due to Unsafe Conditions
Search and rescue efforts were temporarily suspended after a large accumulation of mud and water inside the tunnel created hazardous conditions for rescue personnel, severely hampering access to the remaining trapped workers. Officials stated that operations would resume at full intensity once conditions inside stabilise and re-entry is deemed safe.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the specialised Asansol Rescue Team, and other emergency response agencies remain stationed at the site, prepared to restart operations at the earliest opportunity.
Challenges Facing Rescue Teams
Officials described the rescue mission as proceeding under extremely challenging conditions, citing unstable ground, water ingress, and heavy mud deposits within the tunnel. Strict safety protocols for rescue personnel are being maintained throughout. This comes amid broader concerns over worker safety at large hydropower infrastructure projects in ecologically sensitive Himalayan terrain.
About the Project and Its Context
The Samardung tunnel is part of NHPC's Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project, a major infrastructure undertaking in Sikkim. Rescue agencies have been working round-the-clock since the incident. Notably, Sikkim's Teesta river basin has been the site of repeated infrastructure and natural disaster events in recent years, raising questions about risk assessment protocols at large-scale construction sites in the region.
Authorities continue to make sustained efforts to locate and recover all remaining trapped persons, and further updates are expected as conditions inside the tunnel improve.
Point of View
Yet worker safety frameworks at such sites have repeatedly come under scrutiny after incidents rather than before. The suspension of rescue operations due to mud and water ingress suggests that emergency preparedness protocols may not have adequately accounted for the terrain's volatility. With identifications still pending for 12 of the 13 victims, the human cost is likely to include migrant labourers from distant states with limited institutional support for their families. The accountability trail — from contractor to project owner to regulatory oversight — deserves as much attention as the rescue operation itself.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI tunnel in Sikkim?
A tunnel collapse occurred at the under-construction NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project in Sikkim's Namchi district, trapping multiple workers inside the Samardung tunnel in Jholungey. The death toll has risen to 13 as of 22 July, with rescue operations ongoing.
Why were rescue operations suspended at the Sikkim tunnel site?
Rescue operations were temporarily halted because a large accumulation of mud and water inside the tunnel created unsafe conditions for rescue personnel. Officials said operations will resume once conditions stabilise and re-entry is safe for teams.
Who has been identified among the Sikkim tunnel collapse victims?
Only one victim has been formally identified so far: 31-year-old Shyam Oraon, a resident of Indong Tea Estate in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. Preliminary post-mortem findings indicate he died due to asphyxia, with additional burn injuries also noted.
Which agencies are conducting the rescue at the Sikkim tunnel?
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the specialised Asansol Rescue Team, and other emergency response agencies are stationed at the site. They are working under extremely challenging conditions including unstable ground, water ingress, and heavy mud deposits.
What is the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project?
It is a major hydropower infrastructure project being developed by NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) in Sikkim's Teesta river basin. The Samardung tunnel, where the collapse occurred, is a key component of this under-construction project.
