NHPC flagged methane risk months before Sikkim tunnel blast
The documents record a methane leak in January and show that safety measures and equipment to monitor the gas were subsequently recommended and sought. It is not clear from the documents whether all these recommendations had been fully implemented before work resumed
NHPC Ltd had warned about methane as a risk at the Teesta VI hydropower project in Sikkim several months prior to a catastrophic methane explosion that claimed 25 lives during construction work on July 20. Documents on the company's website reveal a methane leak was reported in January, prompting the recommendation and procurement of safety measures and equipment to monitor the gas.
The explosion in the project's head-race tunnel is believed to have been caused by a sudden burst of trapped methane gas, leading to an explosion, dense fumes, and toxic gases. The detailed investigation into the incident is yet to be concluded.
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