March 2024: 3 Hydropower Workers Killed in Avalanche in Kinnaur-Himachal Pradesh

(Feature image: Rescue work being done at Selti-Masrang HEP site in Kafnu, Kinnaur on March 11, 2024. Image Source: News 18 Hindi)

A snow avalanche has killed three workers of under construction Selti-Masrang hydroelectric power (HEP) project in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. The incident occurred in after noon hours reportedly around 01:00 pm on March 11, 2024.

The 24 Mw project is being built by Hyderabad based Ramesh Hydro Power Private Limited on Wangar khad, a tributary of Sutlej River near Kafnu village panchayat in Bhaba valley of the district. The basic information about the project can be seen here. A forest land of 4.75 ha was diverted for the project wide permission given in May 2013. In 2016, 0.64 ha more forest land was applied for. The project cost then in 2016 was Rs 154. 27 cr.

As per the reports, “a large number of labourers were having lunch at the work site” when a blizzard spell happened followed by the avalanche on Masrang stream burying about five workers under heap of snow. The remaining workers tried to rescue the affected but two of them died on the spot while the third one succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital. Two other workers were left injured in the incident. 

All three decease persons Riuman Kindo (42) resident Urmi village; Virma Urao (45) Ratan Lal (32) resident Kuchatole village hailed from Jharkhand. The injured persons, Krishna (38) from Nepal and Chandra Nath (43) resident Lwanage village, Jharkhand were admitted in Bhabanagar hospital for treatment.

The incident has also damaged the project, however there is no official information on the extent of damages. 

This is probably first of its kind incident of avalanche striking a hydro power project site in the state. The Google Earth map shows the Selti-Masrang project area in Kafno is located amid snow covered high mountains on either side and is quite prone to such incidents. In fact, previously, seven tourists had narrow escape when an avalanche incident occurred in same  Kafnu village area in first week of February 2013.

In a similar incident, in second week of February 2023, an avalanche occurred close to barrage site of 400 Mw  Vishnuprayag HEP in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, no damage of life or properties was reported in this incident.

Multiple Avalanche Incidents

This year, the north western Himalayan states have been witnessing first, unprecedented dry winter season and now unusual heavy snowfall spells since first week of March 2024. At the same time, there have been several blizzard and avalanche incidents in past few weeks in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

In another avalanche incident in Kaza block of Lahaul & Spiti, four people were injured when an avalanche buried them inside their home in Lalung village around 02:00 am on March 11, 2024. Before this, several apple orchards and two cowsheds were severely damaged following an avalanche in Nesang panchayat under Rickong Peo of Kinnaur dist on March 6, 2024.

On March 3, 2024, there were multiple avalanche incidents including at Dara waterfall near Jasrat village, at Seli nullah in Rashel village and at Faldi nuallh in Jobrang village of Lahual & Spiti district blocking Chenab river flows reportedly at two places for more than 15 hours and triggering an alert in the adjoining area. The severe snowfall and avalanche incidents also affected over 600 roads, 1700 power transformers and 78 water supply schemes in the state.

Following avalanches & rainfall spells the district administration Ramban in J&K was forced to open the gates of Baglihar HEP dam on Chenab River & issue warning for downstream areas.

Avalanches New Threats on Hydro Projects

In recent past the incidents GLOFs, landslides, cloudbursts and flashfloods have increasingly damaged several hydro power projects in Himalayan states. This incident shows that the avalanches are also potential disaster threat for such projects and presents a wake up call for governments pushing hydro projects in glaciated and para glacier zone. 

Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)