Major accident in Uttarakhand: two loco trains collide during shift change, 60 workers injured
Chamoli (The Uttam Hindu): A serious accident occurred late Tuesday night at the TBM site of the under-construction THDC hydropower project in Pipalkoti, Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. During a shift change inside the tunnel, two loco trains used for transporting workers collided with each other, leaving around 60 labourers injured.
Following the incident, the district administration and police immediately launched relief and rescue operations. District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar and Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar reached the site to assess the situation. They later visited District Hospital Gopeshwar to check on the injured workers and directed doctors to ensure proper medical care.
According to preliminary reports, out of nearly 100 workers present at the site, 60 sustained injuries. Of these, 42 injured workers are being treated at District Hospital Gopeshwar, while 17 are receiving treatment at Vivekanand Hospital in Pipalkoti. The condition of the remaining workers has been reported as normal.
District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar stated that the condition of all injured workers is currently stable. He added that necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of all personnel involved in the rescue and relief work. Officials have also stressed the need to further strengthen safety measures at the project site. Most of the workers belong to Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, and efforts are being made to inform their families.
He further informed that a 444 MW hydropower project is under construction on the Alaknanda River in Chamoli district. Work was underway inside the tunnel using a tunnel boring machine, with heavy machinery deployed to speed up operations. During this process, the two loco trains operating inside the tunnel collided.
Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar confirmed that around 60 workers were injured in the incident. He said 42 injured workers are undergoing treatment at District Hospital Gopeshwar and 17 at Vivekanand Hospital, Pipalkoti. The condition of all injured workers remains stable, and security personnel have been deployed at the site.