DC Edit | Use Tech, Stop Tunnel Disasters

Teesta VI in Sikkim. The tragic tunnel collapse at the Phase 1 Hydropower Project, which killed 20 workers, is a grim reminder of the risks associated with underground tunnels. It underscores the need to rethink how such projects are carried out in the 21st century, when wars are fought by drones thousands of kilometers away, surgeons perform robotic operations and driverless vehicles navigate busy city streets.

The collapse followed a sudden explosion caused by methane gas suspected to be trapped within the rock, according to the National Hydroelectric Power Board. Methane, a gas found naturally in certain geological formations, can ignite when exposed to a spark from machinery, electrical equipment, or even friction if mixed with air in the right proportion.

The explosion creates a shock wave, dense smoke and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, which quickly replaces oxygen and suffocates people to death. The underground danger does not end with the explosion; invisible gases, unstable rock formations and limited access make every rescue attempt a race against time.

Tunneling has always been among the most dangerous engineering professions. Workers work in confined spaces that offer few means of escape. However, it seems that no advanced technology has been introduced to reduce human participation.

The answer lies not in technological limitations but in uneven adoption. Modern tunneling technology enables the introduction of remotely operated drilling rigs, robotic inspection vehicles, laser and ground-penetrating radar mapping, real-time methane and toxic gas monitoring, and automatic ventilation systems, significantly reducing human exposure during the most dangerous stages of excavation.

But high capital costs deter companies from introducing such technology. This brings us to another question: Are some people’s lives so cheap? The country needs to build infrastructure at a reasonable cost. But at whose expense? And the worst part is that those who died to build the country are not noticed or remembered.