Tunnel Train Collision at THDC Project in Uttarakhand Injures 65 Workers, Safety Lapses Under Scrutiny
At least 65 workers were injured late Tuesday night after two locomotive trains collided inside an underground tunnel at the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)...
At least 65 workers were injured late Tuesday night after two locomotive trains collided inside an underground tunnel at the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) hydroelectric project in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, officials confirmed.
The accident occurred around 8.30 pm in the Pipalkoti area, inside a 4.5-kilometre-long tunnel, when one loco train rammed into another that was stationary on the same track during a shift change. These small trains are routinely used at the project site to ferry workers and construction material deep inside the mountain.
Officials said around 108 workers were travelling on the two trains at the time of the collision. The impact caused two coaches to derail, leading to panic among workers trapped inside the narrow tunnel.
Chaos Inside the Tunnel
Rescue sources described the moments after the collision as frightening.
“The noise of the impact echoed through the tunnel, and there was complete confusion,” said a person familiar with the rescue efforts, requesting anonymity. “Inside a mountain tunnel, even a minor incident feels extremely dangerous.”
Emergency response teams were quickly mobilised, and injured workers were evacuated from the tunnel and rushed to nearby medical facilities.
Officials Rush to Hospital, Inquiry Ordered
District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar and Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar reached the district hospital in Gopeshwar to supervise treatment and ensure adequate medical arrangements.
“All injured workers are stable and out of danger,” Kumar said, adding that the immediate priority was medical care and confirming that there were no fatalities.
The district administration has ordered a high-level inquiry to determine how two trains came to be on the same track simultaneously inside the tunnel. Officials said the investigation will examine operating procedures, signalling arrangements, and safety protocols, especially during shift changes.
About the Project
The 444-megawatt THDC hydropower project, located on the Alaknanda river, is one of the major infrastructure projects in the region and is scheduled to be completed next year. Extensive tunnelling work is underway, and internal loco trains form a critical part of daily operations.
However, experts note that such confined environments demand strict coordination and fail-safe systems to prevent accidents.
Broader Safety Concerns
The incident has renewed concerns over worker safety at large hydropower and tunnelling projects, particularly in fragile Himalayan terrain. Labour safety advocates have long warned that shift changes are high-risk periods if communication and movement protocols are not rigorously enforced.
Authorities said corrective measures would be implemented once the inquiry identifies shortcomings. “Accountability will be fixed after responsibility is determined,” officials said.
Further investigations are ongoing.