Sikkim Tunnel Rescue Hampered by Gas Leak; Protest Enters 24th Day After Clashes
A major rescue operation is underway in Sikkim's Namchi district after a landslide blocked the entrance of an under-construction tunnel, trapping approximately 27 workers and triggering a methane gas leak. The tunnel is part of the Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Power Project. Among those trapped, 21 are employed by contractor Patel Engineering and six by NHPC. Multi-agency teams including NDRF, SDRF, district police, Fire and Emergency Services, and a specialist team from West Bengal are working to reach the workers. However, officials report that methane gas, poor visibility, and the narrow passage are severely hampering efforts, with several rescuers falling unconscious due to gas exposure.
Meanwhile, the protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) entered its 24th day on Tuesday, following violent clashes with police during the 'Sansad Chalo' march on Monday. Undeterred by attempts to disperse them and heavy rain, protesters regrouped at Jantar Mantar and continued their sit-in overnight. They are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka stated that talks with Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday failed to yield a breakthrough. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, on a hunger strike, reiterated his demand that student representatives be allowed to meet parliamentarians.
The movement has evolved beyond alleged exam irregularities into a broader citizens' agitation, drawing parents, teachers, professionals, and workers from across the country. Many participants express deep concerns about the future of education, employment, and youth aspirations. The first day of the Monsoon Session also saw shifting political equations, with Congress leading a joint opposition protest while Trinamool Congress MPs stayed away, highlighting growing faultlines within the opposition.
