Patel Engineering says its project team helping in rescue efforts at Sikkim tunnel collapse site

New Delhi: Patel Engineering Ltd (PEL), which is executing the civil construction works for the tunnel that collapsed in Sikkim, on Tuesday said its project team is working in close coordination with the disaster response forces and local authorities to rescue trapped persons.

Ten people were killed after an under-construction tunnel collapsed due to a landslide in Sikkim's Namchi district on Monday.

A total of 25 people, including project officials and workers, were trapped inside the ADIT-3 tunnel of NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project at Samardung in Jholungey.


Patel Engineering, in a statement, expressed deep concern over the incident and said "our project team is working in close coordination with the district administration, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local authorities and other emergency agencies to support the ongoing rescue operations".

The company said that all necessary resources, equipment and assistance were being provided to support rescue efforts, and its site engineering team was working round-the-clock with authorities to stabilise the tunnel and help rescue crews reach the affected location.

"In this hour of grief, our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and we stand by them firmly during this difficult time," the company added.