Seven additional bodies have been recovered from an under-construction hydroelectric tunnel in India’s Sikkim state, according to officials. This increases the death toll to 22 from a blast that occurred earlier this week.
The explosion happened Monday at the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s (NHPC) project on the Teesta River, in the village of Samardung. The blast, believed to have been caused by methane gas trapped in or released from rocks, produced toxic fumes that filled the tunnel and stranded 25 workers and NHPC personnel.
Rescue teams are still working to find and extract the remaining victims, with authorities stating that the chances of survival for those trapped are minimal. Efforts are being hindered by accumulated mud and water inside the tunnel, along with breathing difficulties caused by the suspected gas leak.
On Wednesday, NHPC announced it would provide ₹500,000 (approximately $5,178) in ex-gratia relief to the families of the deceased. Rescue operations continue with specialized teams working in tandem, despite the challenging conditions inside the tunnel.