Shimla, March 14, 2025 — “The disappearance of an honest officer like Vimal Negi raises serious questions about the work environment in HPPCL.
If such officers are not safe, who is?” says Surender Thakur, retired Chief Engineer, as the engineering fraternity intensifies pressure on the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and its top management.
It has been four days since Chief Engineer Vimal Negi went missing on March 10, and yet, the Himachal Pradesh Police remain clueless about his whereabouts.
With growing concerns over alleged harassment, toxic work culture, and undue pressure from higher-ups, engineers across the state are holding HPPCL’s controversial MD and Director—both IAS officers—accountable for the crisis.
"Negi Was Under Heavy Stress, Forced to Work Late Nights"
Er Ashok Chaudhary, a senior engineer, revealed shocking details about the work culture inside HPPCL in his viral social media post.
"Since the last one and a half years, Negi was under severe stress. He was forced to stay back in the office till 10 PM, 11 PM, sometimes even past midnight.
His superiors made sure he couldn’t leave. I remember last year, one of his colleagues met with an accident at 9:30 PM while heading home from work.
That officer was hospitalized at IGMC for a long time, underwent surgery, and yet when he rejoined, he was forced to prove his medical condition before a board—even after doctors had certified it.
Such is the harsh, inhumane situation in the power corporation today."
"Are We Just Here to Serve Bureaucrats?"
Er R Vashisht, an senior retired power engineer, slammed the Himachal Pradesh government and HPPCL management, drawing comparisons to how NHPC handled a similar crisis in Manipur:
"In NHPC, when their Chief Engineer was kidnapped by insurgents, the PSU and employees stood together, even ready to pay the ransom for his release.
But here in Himachal, an honest officer like Vimal Negi goes missing, and the system remains silent? Are we just here to serve bureaucrats?"
"Negi Faced Mental Harassment"
Insiders have hinted at possible internal pressure and harassment that may have driven Negi into distress.
According to senior engineers, Negi had to fight against mental harassment from his higher-ups, possibly over issues like leave approvals and work pressures.
"There is every possibility that Negi was facing undue pressure from his seniors," said Er Pankaj Dadhwal, who retired as MD HOSEBL, and chaired institute of Engineers.
"If the police, government, and power engineers unite, we can at least find the truth behind his disappearance."
Anger Mounts on Controversial IAS Officers in HPPCL
As frustration grows, engineers and industry experts are now directly questioning the role of HPPCL’s Managing Director and Director, both IAS officers with a history of controversies.
The lack of empathy towards engineers, poor working conditions, and high-handedness of the administration are all being called out.
"It’s time today’s power engineers stop just dancing to the tunes of bureaucrats and start standing up for their rights," said a senior engineer who wished to remain anonymous.
Police Clueless Even After Four Days
With no official updates from the police and no ransom call or trace of Negi, questions over the investigation's seriousness are rising.
The engineering community has now demanded immediate action, warning that the issue could escalate further.
As pressure builds, the government cannot afford to remain silent. The fate of Vimal Negi is not just about one missing officer—it’s about the safety and dignity of every honest engineer in Himachal Pradesh.
📢 #FindVimalNegi #JusticeForEngineers #HPPCLScandal #SaveHonestOfficers #PowerEngineersUnite #HimachalEngineeringCrisis
