Over 15 Indian workers trapped after hydroelectric tunnel blast kills 9

More than 15 workers were feared trapped on Tuesday after a blast ​caused by a suspected gas leak in ‌a tunnel being built for a hydroelectric project in India's rugged northeastern state of Sikkim that killed nine, officials said, Report informs via Reuters.

Monday's ​incident took place at state-owned power firm ​NHPC's project on the Teesta river in the ⁠village of Samardung, district official Subash Ghimirey told ​Reuters.

"The incident was caused by a possible natural gas ​blast but we cannot say for sure yet," said state disaster management official Rajiv Roka. "Nine bodies have been recovered - the bodies ​are charred, so it suggests there was a ​blast."

Survival chances for the rest were slim, he warned, as ‌rescuers ⁠hunting for those trapped had difficulty breathing in the tunnel, making the task difficult.

At least 25 project workers and officials were trapped in the tunnel, the state government ​said on its ​Facebook page, ⁠citing information from NHPC. This figure includes the nine retrieved bodies.