Now Reading: NHPC flagged methane risk months before Sikkim tunnel blast
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NHPC flagged methane risk months before Sikkim tunnel blast
NHPC Ltd had flagged methane as a risk at its Teesta VI hydropower project in Sikkim months before a methane explosion in an under-construction tunnel killed 25 workers on July 20, documents…
The Story in Brief
NHPC Ltd had flagged methane as a risk at its Teesta VI hydropower project in Sikkim months before a methane explosion in an under-construction tunnel killed 25 workers on July 20, documents on the company’s website show. The Hindushan Times reports that an NHPC document from January 14 records a sudden leak of flammable methane gas during heading excavation at HRT Face 4A, which caused burn injuries and suspension of work.
A subsequent safety audit by CSIR-CIMFR recommended strict implementation of handheld methanometers and continuous monitoring. A tender for calibration of three such units was issued on June 17, but the documents do not clarify if all recommendations were implemented before the blast. An expression of interest issued just 10 days before the explosion sought expert agencies to address methane gas and other challenges.
The Indian Opinion
The documents show NHPC knew of the methane risk, but the key question is whether safety measures were actually in place on July 20. The narrative of a company ignoring warnings is strong, but the investigation must establish facts, not assumptions. A parallel could be drawn to earlier hydropower disasters where accountability was weak. The real test will be whether the probe into this blast names specific officials and leads to enforceable changes, or becomes just another file.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
