An accident struck Sikkim's Namchi district following a collapsed tunnel of under-construction work with seven workers dead and several more feared trapped under the rubble.
People came out of the country to help in the rescue effort and the disaster response teams, local authorities, police and construction workers.
The tunnel collapse took place during construction work and had several workers inside, the officials said. The structure collapsed suddenly, burying workers under a lot of rock, mud and construction material, they said. Emergency services rushed to the site in a hurry, and emergency services were dispatched soon after.
That has so far been very difficult for rescue teams to get through the debris as it is being cleared using heavy machinery and search for survivors, but the terrain and unstable structure has made it difficult to work out rescue efforts.
The bodies of the dead workers have been identified after recovery efforts and several wounded workers have been sent to local hospitals for treatment. It is not yet known how many people are still trapped, but on Wednesday, rescue efforts remain on, as the extent of the collapse is still being worked out.
State government officials have expressed sorrow to the families of those who died. Senior administrative officials are at the accident site to monitor rescue efforts and coordinate relief.
Local police have secured the area so there are no other chances of mishap and engineers check the stability of the remaining tunnel structure.
7 dead after landslide blocks under-construction tunnel in Sikkim's Namchi; rescue operations underway. pic.twitter.com/061wqtR7pe
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It also ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse. Initial investigations indicate geological problems, recent excavation, or possible structural deficiencies could cause the accident, but the exact reason will only be known after a thorough technical investigation.
Construction-related accidents in hilly regions like Sikkim are particularly challenging due to fragile mountain geology, heavy rainfall, and difficult working conditions. It is widely believed that the continuous monitoring of geological conditions and safety requirements are important when conducting big-ticket infrastructure projects.
The tunnel was part of an infrastructure development project that was aimed at the development of roads in the region. In the northeastern state such projects are key to good transportation, tourism and economic development. But the latest tragedy has once again emphasized the threat that labor in complex mountain construction projects face.
Near the accident site, people gathered around as rescue teams worked late in the day. Families of the workers were waiting for news of the workers, hopeful that there would be some good news from the disaster zone.
The authorities have assured that all of the available resources are coming to the rescue of victims and medical facilities have been put in place to treat those suffering from the accident. The investigation's findings are expected to determine why so many people died.
The nation grieves the loss of lives in another infrastructure-related disaster, while workers will learn to work safely and follow construction procedures in mountainous areas.
