(Feature Image: Screen shot of FB video report on Vishnugad Pipalkoti HEP tunnel accident)
Collision between two loco trains inside the tunnel of Vishnugad Pipalkoti HEP in Uttarakhand around 9.30 pm on Dec 30 2025 has left over 60 workers injured. The accident occurred during change in work shift about 7km inside the tunnel near the tunnel boring machine (TBM). About 109 workers were working inside the 13km long tunnel at the time of the accident. The trains are deployed to transport the workers. The 444 Mw project is being built by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) on Alaknanda river in Chamoli district. The construction work is going on since 2013-14.
As per district administration of 60 injured workers 42 were admitted in district hospital Gopeshwar while 17 were under treatment Vivekanand hospital in Pipalkoti. About four-five workers in the district hospital are with bone fracture injuries. Most of the workers received minor injuries while five to six workers suffered severe injuries. Condition of all of the affected workers is reported to be stable. The tunnel work was stopped following the incident.
Most of the injured are migrant workers from Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand employed by HCC in the project. Failure of brake of second train is sited a reason behind the accident. There is no official report as yet. However, a video uploaded on Chamoli Police FB page shows the District Magistrate (DM) Gaurav Kumar and Superintendent of Police (SP) Surjit Singh Panwar briefing about the accident from project site. As per SP briefing there was collision between a train with workers at 2.5 km inside the tunnel with another empty train about 5 km inside the tunnel. (This statement is unclear and confusing). He also stated that the accident happened due to some problem in the brake system.
Another FB video post from project site makes some clear information about the accident. As per this, the accident occurred around 08:40 pm inside main tunnel with TBM deployed in. It mentions that after 08:00 pm shift change of TBM site workers, the loco train with 6 compartments of about 108 passenger capacity was going inside the tunnel. Around 08:40 pm about 2.5 km inside the tunnel it suddenly ran into another empty loco train standing at the crossing (stoppage). Initially 40 workers were reported to be injured. Entry inside the tunnel was prohibited for safety reasons at that time.
As usual, even after passing of more than 12 hours, there is no official statement in public domain from THDC, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and State Dam Safety Committee (SDSC).
When project officials were contacted in afternoon hours of Dec. 31, Ajay Verma Project Head, THDC shared some useful information. He stated that there are two locos used on a single track. The passenger loco hit the standing loco during the night hour. There were a total 81 workers in the loco at the time of accident. “Barring 8 workers including 4 with fractures and 4 under observation currently under treatment in district hospital – remaining have been discharged” Ajay Verma stated adding that tunnel work has been stopped and will resume after DM inspection and report. He also said that THDC head office will release an official statement regarding the accident. We will add the statement if it is put in public domain.
SANDRP
SANDRP 