Two Loco Trains Collide Inside Uttarakhand Tunnel, 60 Workers Injured

At least 60 people were injured when two internal transport trains carrying workers collided inside a tunnel at a hydroelectric project in Uttarakhand‘s Chamoli district during a late-night shift change. The incident triggered a large-scale rescue and medical operation.

The collision occurred around 9:30 p.m. at the THDC-run Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydropower project when two loco trains operating inside the tunnel crashed into each other. At the time, the trains were transporting 109 workers.

Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh reported that among the 42 patients admitted to the district hospital, four to five had sustained fractures. An additional 17 injured workers were admitted to Vivekananda Hospital in Pipalkoti. Both hospitals received support from army personnel and local administrative staff to handle the surge of patients.

District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar confirmed that the collision took place during routine operations inside the tunnel. He reiterated that 60 of the 109 passengers suffered injuries, with 42 admitted to the district hospital and 17 to Vivekananda Hospital. Immediate medical assistance was deployed to both facilities to ensure prompt treatment of the injured.

Police and administrative teams are actively monitoring the situation on-site and at the hospitals to coordinate rescue efforts and provide support to the injured workers.

Investigation and Safety Measures

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision and are assessing the safety protocols at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti project. Measures are being reviewed to prevent similar accidents in the future and ensure the safety of workers operating inside tunnels.

The incident highlights the need for strict adherence to operational safety standards and continuous monitoring of transport procedures in high-risk industrial environments.