Sikkim Assembly mourns NHPC tunnel tragedy victims, CM Tamang assures aid
Gangtok, July 21
The Sikkim Legislative Assembly on Tuesday paid homage to the 11 workers who died in the collapse of an under-construction tunnel at the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project in Namchi district, with members observing a two-minute silence at the start of the second day of the Budget Session.
Speaker Mingma Norbu Sherpa led the House in offering condolences to the victims of the tragedy that struck the project site at Jholungey in Samardung on Monday, where 25 workers, including project personnel, were trapped after the tunnel caved in.
Expressing profound grief over the loss of lives, the Speaker extended sympathies to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.
Rescue teams continued their operations on Tuesday to trace and evacuate the remaining workers trapped inside the tunnel, with multiple agencies engaged in the challenging exercise.
Addressing the Assembly, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said the state government was closely monitoring the rescue mission and ensuring all possible support to those affected by the disaster.
He informed the House that financial assistance would be extended to the victims' families and the injured in accordance with the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms.
The Chief Minister had earlier announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for every injured person.
Tamang also told legislators that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him after the incident to assess the situation. He said both leaders assured the Sikkim government of all necessary assistance from the Centre after being briefed on the ongoing rescue operations.
According to NHPC, the mishap occurred after a suspected pocket of methane gas trapped within rock formations suddenly burst, triggering an explosion that filled the tunnel with dense fumes and toxic gases, hampering rescue efforts.
Following the condolence proceedings, the Assembly resumed its scheduled legislative business. Members deliberated on the General Budget for 2026-27 and passed two bills providing for the establishment of a State Medical Council and enabling the setting up of a private open schooling board in the state.
The House also adopted the Motion of Thanks on the Governor's Address and approved demands for grants of several departments, including Public Health Engineering, Water Resources and Ecclesiastical Affairs.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The methane gas burst sounds like a known geological hazard in the region. Why wasn't proper ventilation and gas monitoring done beforehand? Our workers deserve better safety protocols. The ₹4 lakh ex-gratia is too little for families who lost their breadwinner.
Glad to see the Assembly observing silence and prioritizing this tragedy. But I hope the rescue operations continue with full urgency—there are still workers trapped. Praying for their safe return. 🙏
NHPC's safety record needs serious review. This is not the first such incident in the Northeast. The state government must ensure accountability, not just condolences and compensation. A thorough investigation is mandatory.
Proud that PM Modi and Amit Shah personally spoke to CM Tamang—Centre's support is crucial. But the real test is in prevention. Let's not forget that Sikkim's fragile ecosystem demands extra caution in such mega-projects.
Tragic news from Sikkim. Condolences to the families. The methane burst explanation sounds plausible, but I wonder if geological surveys were adequately done before construction. Hope the remaining workers are rescued soon.
The Assembly's focus on both grieving and legislative work shows resilience. Glad they passed bills
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