India, Aug. 13 -- NGT takes suo motu cognisance of Sikkim tunnel tragedy

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on August 3, 2026, took up the matter of toxic gas killing 25 workers inside an under-construction tunnel of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in Sikkim's Namchi district, Sikkim.

The court registered a suo motu application based on the news item titled Toxic Gas Kills 20 in Sikkim Tunnel Efforts On to Save 5 Workers appearing in The Hindu dated July 22, 2026. The matter relates to the suspected sudden release of methane gas that killed 25 workers inside an under-construction tunnel of the NHPC's Teesta State-VI Hydroelectric Project.

The incident occurred inside the head race tunnel under construction at Samardu...