A devastating collision between two trains inside a hydroelectric project tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district has left approximately 60 people injured, officials confirmed on Tuesday evening. The accident occurred within the Pipalkoti tunnel of the ambitious Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project, raising serious questions about safety protocols at construction sites.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar revealed that 109 people, predominantly construction workers, were aboard the trains when the collision took place late on December 30. The incident involved a passenger locomotive carrying workers and officials colliding head-on with a goods train transporting construction materials through the narrow tunnel passage.
“The train was evacuated and the condition of all injured is stable,” Kumar assured, though the sheer number of casualties has sent shockwaves through the region. Emergency response teams worked through the night to ensure all passengers were safely evacuated from the confined tunnel space.
Ten of the more seriously injured workers have been rushed to the district hospital in Gopeshwar for advanced medical treatment, while others with minor injuries are receiving care at local medical facilities. The swift response of emergency services prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome.
Indian Railways was quick to distance itself from the incident, issuing a clarification statement that emphasized these were not official railway operations. “It is clarified that during construction of a hydro power project tunnel construction, an unfortunate event occurred due to local trolley transportation arrangement in Chamoli district Uttarakhand. This event has nothing to do with Indian Railways,” the statement read.
The railway authority stressed that the trains involved were part of a “local arrangement done by Tunnel Project team for transportation” and bore no connection to the national rail network. These specialized locomotive trains serve as the primary means of transportation within the project’s tunnel system, ferrying workers, equipment, and materials necessary for the massive construction undertaking.
The Vishnugad-Pipalkoti project represents a significant infrastructure investment for the region, designed to harness the power of the Alaknanda River. Stretching between Helang and Pipalkoti in Chamoli district, this 444-megawatt hydroelectric facility is being constructed by THDC India Limited, a prominent player in India’s renewable energy sector.
Upon completion, the project is expected to generate 111 megawatts of clean electricity through four state-of-the-art turbines, contributing significantly to the region’s power infrastructure. The ambitious timeline targets completion by next year, though Tuesday’s accident may prompt a comprehensive review of safety measures and potentially impact the construction schedule.
This incident highlights the inherent risks faced by thousands of workers involved in India’s massive infrastructure development projects, particularly those operating in challenging geographical conditions like the mountainous terrain of Uttarakhand. The collision underscores the critical need for enhanced safety protocols and better coordination systems in tunnel construction operations.
Local authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the collision, with particular focus on communication systems and traffic management within the tunnel. The findings will likely influence safety standards for similar projects across the country’s expanding hydroelectric sector.
