New Delhi/Gangtok, July 22 -- As many as 13 bodies have been retrieved in the incident when a section of the under-construction Head Race Tunnel (HRT) of the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project collapsed at Samardung, Jholungey, in Sikkim's Namchi district, NHPC said on Wednesday.
The accident took place on Monday afternoon. NHPC also announced that it will provide an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased in this unfortunate incident.
According to officials, the tunnel collapse was followed by a suspected methane gas leak, filling the tunnel with dense fumes and toxic gases.
In a statement, the NHPC said,'' Rescue operations at the under-construction Head Race Tunnel (HRT) of NHPC's Teesta Stage-VI Hyd...