The death toll from an explosion at an Indian power plant has risen to 20 | Story

Rescuers say flooding and toxic gases that have seeped into the collapsed road make it unlikely that the trapped workers will survive.

The number of people who died from gas explosions caused by a the canal to collapse At least 20 people have been killed at a hydroelectric project being built in the remote northeastern Indian state of Sikkim.

“Of the 25 trapped, 13 bodies have been recovered so far,” said Rajiv Roka, director of the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority. “The rescuers have also seen another seven to eight bodies inside, but have not been able to retrieve them yet.”

The rescue operation at the 500-megawatt project of the state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) failed because the road was flooded and methane gas was coming out from under the rocks.

“There was water collected … so it has been difficult to remove the bodies,” Roka said. “Looking at the situation, I don’t think there will be any survivors.”

The area has seen heavy rainfall recently, making the recovery process difficult.

The NHPC, which oversees the hydroelectric project, said the collapse of the canal was caused by an “explosion of methane gas believed to be trapped in the rocks, resulting in thick smoke and toxic air”.

It said a detailed investigation would be conducted.

Accidents at major protected areas are common in India, but ecologists say increased development has led to more disasters in the rugged Himalayan region, where earthquakes and loose rock make the gaps more dangerous.

In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days when a Himalayan road collapsed in northern Uttarakhand.