(Feature Image: Rockslide at dam site of 444 Mw Vishnugad-Pipalkoti HEP on Aug 02, 2025)
At least 12 workers sustained injuries in a rockslide at the under construction Vsihnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro-Electric Power (VPHEP) project in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The 444 Mw (111X4) project is being built on Alaknanda River by the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC).
The incident occurred around 11:00 am on Aug 2, 2025 at the dam site of the project in Helang. The Alaknanda River is currently diverted through a diversion tunnel and the accident reportedly took place during ongoing construction work at dam site.
The figure for number of workers working at the site varies from about fifty to seventy to over a hundred. The panicked workers ran to save their lives. About 12 workers got injured by the shooting stones and falling debris. The details of 12 injured workers can be seen here.
The injured workers were rescued and hospitalized by the district administration. 8 of the workers with minor injuries were discharged from the local hospital after primary treatment. 4 other workers were getting treatment at THDC and Swami Vivekananda hospitals in Pipalkoti. One of the critically injured workers was given plaster cast while another critically injured worker was referred to Srinagar Medical College for advance treatment.
As per Sandeep Tiwari, District Magistrate (DM), about 300 workers are currently working in the project and about 70 workers were present at the site during the accident. The DM has also directed the company to resume work only after ensuring workers’ safety at the project site. As of August 3, 2025, the construction work of the project has been stopped.
Fortunately, there is no report on any fatality so far. As per local people the accident could have resulted in casualties but luckily the debris and rocks were divided into two parts from the source reducing the impact. They also stated that the project assets have faced minor impact in the incident.
For long, the locals have blamed the project developer for carrying out excessive blasting work resulting in weaking of the hills and cracks in homes in the area and disposing off construction muck and debris in the Alaknanda river. Only, in July 2024 a flash flood had damaged the project property and machineries apart from endangering the lives of several workers. The project is vulnerable to geological risks and has already suffered massive disaster and deaths in February 2021 Chamoli disaster.
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