Major accident in Chamoli, Uttarakhand: Two loco trains carrying laborers collided inside the under-construction tunnel, 60 laborers injured.

Chamoli, 31 December. A tragic accident took place late on Tuesday night during shift change at the TVM site of the under-construction THDC Hydroelectric Project located at Pipalkoti in Chamoli district of Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand. 60 workers were injured in the accident. According to initial information, two loco trains carrying workers collided inside the tunnel, due to which many workers were injured.

After the incident, the district administration and police department immediately started relief work. On receiving the information, District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar and Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar reached the spot and took stock of the situation. After this, both the officers reached District Hospital Gopeshwar and inquired about the well being of the injured laborers and instructed the doctors for better treatment. According to preliminary reports, out of total 100 laborers, 60 have been reported injured.

Of these, 42 laborers are being treated at District Hospital Gopeshwar, while 17 injured are being treated at Vivekananda Hospital Pipalkoti. The condition of the remaining workers is said to be normal. District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said that the condition of the injured is currently stable and the officials have said that necessary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of all the workers engaged in relief work.

Officials have stressed the need to further tighten security measures at the project site. The workers are residents of Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha. Their families are being contacted. He said that a 444 MW hydroelectric project is being built on the Alaknanda river in Chamoli district. Work was going on inside the tunnel. Excavation was also being done through tunnel boring machine. Heavy machines were installed inside the tunnel to carry out the work at a faster pace.

Two loco trains carrying laborers collided inside the tunnel. Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Panwar said that about 60 people were reported injured. Out of these, 42 injured people are being treated at District Hospital Gopeshwar and 17 injured laborers are being treated at Vivekananda Hospital Pipalkoti. The condition of others is normal. The condition of all the injured is currently said to be stable. Security officers have been deployed on the spot.