DRP 030826: Eight Disasters Hit Himalayan Hydro Projects in Six Weeks

August 3, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Flash flood in Chenab valley on July 06, 2026 buried several vehicles at Kwar HEP site in Kishtwar. Source: NDTV)

Over the past one and a half months of the 2026 monsoon season (since June 24), at least eight (& counting) major accidents and disasters have affected hydropower and dam projects across the Himalayan region. In addition, two recurring landslide lakes have emerged as significant hazards that are either linked to HEP construction activities or have the potential to impact downstream hydropower infrastructure. Notably, these incidents span the Teesta, Brahmaputra, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna basins underlining that almost no major Himalayan river basin remains untouched by recurring hydro-related disasters.

Continue reading →

Beas · Himalayas · Landslide dam

July 2026: Flood Threat from Landslide Lake in Sainj Valley, Himachal Pradesh

August 1, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Google Earth image marks locations mentioned in the report along landslide lakes and nearby hydropower infrastructure in the Sainj Valley. The red circle marks the probable location of the landslide lake on Jiva nullah, while the yellow circle indicates the landslide lake that formed on Varshanu nullah in June 2025. The numbered locations represent: (1) 1 MW Jiva Small HEP, (2) 100 MW Sainj HEP powerhouse, (3) 800 MW Parbati-II HEP powerhouse and (4) the dam of the 520 MW Parbati-III HEP.)

Fresh landslides and the continued expansion of a landslide-dammed lake on Jiva nullah in the Sainj Valley of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, have once again raised concerns over a potential downstream flood disaster. Although no official estimate of the lake’s area or stored water volume has been made public, local residents say the impounded water body has expanded steadily over the past three years.

Continue reading →

Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · Ravi River

July 2026: Workers Injured by Rockfall near Chamera-III Dam Site in Ravi Basin

July 31, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Rockfall at Chamera III dam site in Chamba on July 24, 2026. Source: Amar Ujala)

A rockfall at the dam site of the 231 MW Chamera-III Hydro Project narrowly averted a major tragedy on July 24, 2026. The incident occurred close to the dam construction area around 6 PM near Kharamukh on the Pathankot–Bharmour NH in Chamba dist, Himachal Pradesh.

Continue reading →

Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · Ravi River

July 2026: Flood Damages Chanju-III HEP Again in Ravi Basin, Himachal Pradesh

July 31, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Flash flood at Chanju III HEP site in Chamba on July 19. Source: The Modern Himachal)

A flash flood in the Chanju stream on July 19, 2026, caused significant damage to the Chanju-III Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Ravi basin. The project is being built near Chanju and Dehra villages in Churah subdivision of Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh. As per initial reports, the swollen stream washed away large quantities of construction material and damaged several temporary structures at the project site.

Continue reading →

Chenab · Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster

July 2026: Chenab Flood Damages Ratle HEP Coffer Dam in J&K

July 30, 2026July 31, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Flood spell in Chenab river overtopping and damaging part of cofferdam at 850 MW Ratle HEP in Kistwar, J&K. Source: Greater Kashmir).

The cofferdam of Ratle Hydroelectric Project (HEP) was partially damaged due to a floods in Chenab river on July 23, 2026. The 850 MW project is under construction near Drabshalla village in Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir. The cofferdam was built to divert river flows and facilitate construction of the main concrete gravity dam.

Continue reading →

Agriculture · Bihar

Adaptation as Water Security in the Kosi Floodplains in Bihar

July 28, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

Guest Article by: Rahul Yaduka

1. Paradox of Abundance and Insecurity

Kosi Diyara, the land-waterscape trapped within the embankments along the river Kosi in Bihar, harbours various paradoxes. One of them is that it is a water-abundant region facing recurrent floods and yet witnessing persistent livelihood and water insecurity. This water insecurity manifests in different forms in different seasons. For instance, during the flood period from mid-May to mid-October, the Kharif paddy crop is prone to flooding. On the other hand, during the cultivation of the Rabi crop, viz., wheat, between December and April, the lack of irrigation infrastructure and required capital inputs makes irrigation challenging despite the abundance of water.

Continue reading →

Dams, Rivers & People · Urban Rivers

DRP 270726: Urban Rivers Need Ecological Restoration, Not Concrete, Cosmetic Fixes

July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Vrishabhavathi river in Bengaluru. Credit: Deccan Herald)

Despite sustaining cities with water supply, groundwater recharge, flood moderation, biodiversity, livelihoods and cultural services, India’s urban rivers continue to deteriorate, as highlighted by several reports this week. The Yamuna in Delhi remains the starkest example – ecologically dead across long stretches due to unchecked sewage inflows, shrinking flows and relentless floodplain encroachment. Similar stories are unfolding across the country, with Mumbai’s Mithi, Hyderabad’s Musi, Chennai’s Cooum, Bengaluru’s Vrishabhavathi, Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati, Vadodara’s Vishwamitri, Jaipur’s Dravyawati, Nasik’s Godvarai, Pune’s Mula-Mutha amd several other urban rivers increasingly reduced to sewage drains or heavily degraded waterways.

Continue reading →

Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · Teesta

July 2026: 25 Workers Killed in NHPC Teesta-VI HEP Tunnel Disaster in Sikkim

July 24, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Joint rescue and recovery operation at Teesta VI HEP tunnel site in Samardung, Sikkim: Image credit: PTI/Source: ETV Bharat)

The methane leak and explosion disaster on 20 July 2026 inside the under-construction ADIT-III tunnel of NHPC’s 500 MW Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project (HEP) at Samardung in South Sikkim claimed the lives of all 25 trapped workers, making it one of the worst tunnel accidents in India’s hydropower sector.

Continue reading →

Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · Sutlej

July 2026: Recurring Artificial Lake Floods Lippa in Sutlej Basin

July 22, 2026July 22, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Google Earth image showing Lippa village, Pejar and Kerang streams and location of artificial lake in red circle.)

A flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall on 9 July 2026 created an artificial lake in Lippa village under Pooh subdivision of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. The deluge originated in the Pejar (Pager) nallah, which carried huge amount of boulders, debris and slush into the Kerang stream (Teti khad) blocking its natural flow. The obstruction caused water to accumulate rapidly, creating an artificial lake at the confluence of Pejar and Kerang stream.

Continue reading →

Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 20 July 2026: Wither Dam Safety Compliance in India?

July 20, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Featue Image: A CDO team in May 2025 inspects the Srisailam Dam to assess its structural safety. Souce: TNIE)

It’s been five years since the Parliament passed the Dam Safety Act and the institutions including National and State Dam Safety committees and authorities were set up. However, how safe are our dams and how far have we achieved the Dam Safety Compliance norms? The answer to that question is unlikely to be confidence inspiring. This feeling is reinforced with a number of reports in recent weeks.

Continue reading →