Accident in Uttarakhand's Chamoli District Injures 60 in Tunnel Collision
Collision in Hydroelectric Project Tunnel Causes Panic
Late Tuesday night, chaos erupted in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, when two locomotives collided inside the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project tunnel. Approximately 60 individuals sustained injuries, including many workers and officials associated with the project.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred within the Pipalkoti tunnel while one train was transporting workers and officials, and the other was carrying construction materials. Both trains were operating within the project area. According to District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, there were a total of 109 people on board at the time of the accident, and all injured individuals have been safely evacuated. Currently, their conditions are reported to be stable.
Injuries and Medical Response
Reports indicate that 10 injured individuals have been admitted to the district hospital in Gopeshwar, while 17 others were sent to Vivekananda Hospital in Pipalkoti for treatment. SP Chamoli Surjeet Singh mentioned that a total of 42 people are hospitalized, with 4 to 5 suffering from fractures. Emergency services and relief teams are on-site, monitoring the situation closely.
Project Background
This accident took place in a tunnel constructed under the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project, which is being developed between Helang and Pipalkoti on the Alaknanda River. The project has a capacity of 444 megawatts, with plans to generate 111 megawatts of electricity, and is expected to be completed by next year.
Clarification from Indian Railways
In the aftermath of the incident, Indian Railways clarified that there is no connection between the accident and railway operations. According to Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, the CPR of Northern Railway, the collision was caused by a local trolley system being used at the project site, and no Indian Railways train was involved.
Ongoing Investigation
Currently, the administration is focused on relief and medical efforts while a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident is underway.