Worst Tunnel Crash Disasters in the World and in India!!

Recently, a part of a huge tunnel under construction in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand has collapsed. 40 workers were stuck in this accident. The incident took place in Uttarakhand. As part of the Chardham road project, a four kilometer tunnel is being constructed connecting Silkyara to Dandalgan.

In relation to the above incident, let us check top worst tunnel crash disasters in India and the World.

Here is a list of some of the worst tunnel crash disasters in India:

• August 1981 Baijnathpur-Lohgad Road Tunnel, Maharashtra: A fire broke out in a truck carrying flammable materials inside the tunnel, causing 25 deaths.
• May 1987 Mhow-Indore Road Tunnel, Madhya Pradesh: A bus carrying 50 passengers collided with a truck inside the tunnel, resulting in 38 deaths. 
• June 1998 Jammu-Srinagar Highway Tunnel: A truck carrying LPG cylinders exploded inside the tunnel, killing 21 people. 
• October 2009 Hirakud Tunnel, Odisha: A fire broke out in a passenger train inside the tunnel, killing 30 people. 
• Cause: A fire broke out in a truck carrying petrol cans. The fire quickly spread, and many of the victims died from smoke inhalation.
• June 2019 Tanakpur-Jauljibi Road Tunnel, Uttarakhand: A bus carrying pilgrims collided with a truck inside the tunnel, causing 13 deaths. 
• February 2021 Jammu-Srinagar Highway Tunnel: A bus carrying 30 passengers collided with a truck inside the tunnel, resulting in 7 deaths.
• July 2022 Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, Jammu and Kashmir: A bus carrying 40 passengers collided with a truck inside the tunnel, causing 10 deaths. 
• November 2023 Char Dham Tunnel, Uttarakhand: A bus carrying 30 passengers collided with a truck inside the tunnel, killing 26 people.

Top 5 Worst Tunnel Crash Disasters in The World

1. Mont Blanc Tunnel Fire (1999): The Mont Blanc Tunnel, which connects France and Italy, experienced a catastrophic fire on March 24, 1999. A truck carrying flour and margarine caught fire inside the tunnel, leading to intense heat and toxic smoke. The fire raged for 53 hours, and 39 people lost their lives. The tunnel was closed for three years for repairs and improvements.
2. Gotthard Road Tunnel Fire (2001): On October 24, 2001, a truck carrying flammable liquid and chemicals caught fire inside the Gotthard Road Tunnel in Switzerland. The fire led to the deaths of 11 people and the closure of the tunnel for several months for repairs.
3. Hokuriku Tunnel Collapse (2012): In Japan, the Sasago Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway suffered a collapse on December 2, 2012. Concrete ceiling panels fell onto moving vehicles, resulting in the deaths of nine people. The collapse was attributed to the aging tunnel structure and insufficient inspections.
4. Eurotunnel Fire (1996): On November 18, 1996, a truck on a Eurotunnel Le Shuttle train carrying freight caught fire. The fire caused significant damage to the tunnel infrastructure and led to the suspension of Eurotunnel services for several months. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
5. Seikan Tunnel Derailment (1984): In Japan, the Seikan Tunnel is both a railway and a road tunnel. On March 9, 1984, a freight train derailed inside the tunnel, resulting in a massive fire. The accident claimed the lives of 29 people and led to the suspension of train services through the tunnel.

Published date : 23 Nov 2023 05:18PM