Blast in a tunnel at Indian hydropower project leaves 12 dead and 13 missing

In this image provided by the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim, an ambulance moves through an under-construction tunnel at a hydropower project in Samardung village, about 40km from Gangtok, India, late Monday, Jul 20, 2026. (Photo: Government of Sikkim via AP) 22 Jul 2026 02:14PM GUWAHATI, India: A suspected gas explosion collapsed part of a tunnel under construction at a hydropower project in India’s northeastern Himalayan state of Sikkim, leaving at least 12 people dead and 13 missing, officials said Tuesday (Jul 22).Rescue teams with oxygen gear raced to find survivors Tuesday as toxic levels of gas were detected at the disaster site in Samardung village near the Chinese border.The blast had ripped through the tunnel Monday while 21 labourers were insid