60 injured as two loco trains collide inside THDC Project tunnel in Uttarakhand's Chamoli

Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said that there were a total of 109 people on the train at the time of the accident, which occurred late in the evening, and 60 of them were injured.

At least 60 people, mostly workers, were injured when two loco trains collided inside the under-construction Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydro-electric project tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.

The incident happened on Tuesday night when the loco trains, carrying labourers collided in the 13-kilometre long tunnel.

According to the officials, more than 100 workers and other employees were working inside the tunnel when the incident happened. Reports said that many workers fell as a result of the collision and suffered injuries. Some of them also suffered fractures.

Senior officials rushed to the spot on getting the information and rescue operations were launched immediately.

The injured were admitted to the hospitals in Gopeshwar and Pipalkoti. The condition of the injured was stated to be stable, the officials added.

The construction work inside the tunnel has been stopped following the incident. Loco trains are used for transporting the workers and heavy materials inside the tunnel.

The officials said that preliminary investigations indicated some technical fault behind the mishap. The collision happened in a narrow and dark section of the tunnel, sources said. An inquiry has been ordered into the mishap.

The 444-MW hydroelectric project was being built on the Alaknanda river between Helang and Pipalkoti in the district and is scheduled to be completed next year.