Gangtok: Between 12 and 20 workers are feared to be trapped inside the under-construction Samardung tunnel at Mamring in South Sikkim following a reported landslide that allegedly triggered a gas leak on Monday.
According to initial reports, the incident occurred inside the tunnel being constructed by Patel Engineering for the Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project. A section of the tunnel is reported to have collapsed or blocked after the landslide, preventing the workers from exiting.
Rescue operations are underway, with personnel from the Sikkim Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and other emergency agencies deployed at the site. Authorities are also regulating traffic in the area to facilitate rescue efforts.
Sources said that members of a rescue team from West Bengal experienced dizziness and reportedly lost consciousness due to suspected gas exposure while attempting to reach the trapped workers.
They were shifted to the nearest hospital for treatment.
The exact number of workers trapped remains unclear, with initial reports placing the figure between 12 and 20.
Officials have not yet issued a formal confirmation regarding the number of workers inside the tunnel or their condition.
The Samardung tunnel is part of the under-construction Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project near Rangpo. Rescue teams continue to work to reach the trapped workers, while authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
