THDC, the construction company of the Vishnuprayag-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project under construction on the Alaknanda River, will review all safety arrangements of the project. The company has also constituted an inquiry committee. The project’s general manager said that safety arrangements are being further strengthened to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
On December 30, a loco train accident occurred in the project’s under-construction tunnel, injuring 70 laborers and workers. After first aid, 61 people were taken to the hospital. Later, eight people were admitted to the hospital. After three were discharged, only five personnel remain hospitalized as of Thursday. After the accident, District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar and Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Panwar also inspected the tunnel. They also instructed THDC to ensure robust safety arrangements at the TBM site and to ascertain the causes of the incident.
Adequate medical facilities are being provided to the five hospitalized personnel.
Project head Ajay Verma said that along with the district administration, THDC has also constituted an inquiry committee. Approximately 3 kilometers of tunnel construction work remains. The contracting agency has been instructed to strictly adhere to safety standards, legal provisions, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Following the incident, all safety arrangements of the project are being reviewed again, and necessary corrective measures are being taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future. He said that adequate medical facilities are being provided to the five personnel admitted to the district hospital. THDC India Limited is making complete arrangements for their treatment.
Police and administration begin investigation
Work in the tunnel has been stopped for a few days following the loco train accident in the under-construction tunnel. From Thursday, the Chamoli district administration and police department have started an investigation into the accident. Deputy Superintendent of Police Madan Singh Bisht inspected the TBM site, while on Friday, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Chamoli Rajkumar Pandey will inspect the tunnel. During the magisterial inquiry, both TBM and manual work in the tunnel will remain suspended. The operator had been deployed just a month ago.
The operator of the locomotive involved in the accident was an employee of HCC (Hindustan Construction Company). He had been deployed to the Vishnugad project just a month ago. Project head Ajay Verma said that the driver’s services have been terminated. On the instructions of the District Magistrate, the operator has been instructed not to leave the station until a magisterial inquiry into the incident is completed.
