(Feature image rescue work in Manuni khad in Khaniyar, Kangra on 26 June 2025. Source: Social Media)
In a tragic incident several workers of under construction Indira Priyadarshini Hydel Project are missing after a ‘cloudburst’ induced flash flood struck the project site on June 25, 2025. The 4.8 Mw (2.4 X 2) small hydro power project is being developed by Indira Priyadarshini Hydro Power Pvt Ltd (IPHPPL) on Manuni khad near Sokani Da Kot village under Khaniyara post office of Dharamshala tehsil in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Manuni khad is a tributary of Baner River in Beas basin. The construction work started in Dec 2019 & was scheduled for commissioning in May 2026.
Though the incident took place around 02:00 PM, the information surfaced in public domain only in evening hours through social media. Talking about the number of missing workers, a Face Book message by Local MLA Sudhir Sharma posted at 19:04 PM stated that about 15-20 workers living in a tinshed near the project were washed away in the deluge.
After this, the Chief Minister’s (CM) official Face Book post at 21:12 PM revealed that several workers of a hydel project in Dharamshala have gone missing and dead bodies of the 2 workers have been recovered by the rescue team. Though the CM post did not name the project and number of missing workers, the district administration later on has claimed that the total 8 number of workers were washed away. As per Hemraj Bairwa, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kangra the hydro project has also faced damages. There were about 30 migrant workers from Chamba, Saluni, Jammu & Kashmir and Bihar engaged in the construction of the project.
So far, there is no conclusive and final report on the exact number of missing or dead workers. When contacted on June 26 morning, Robin Kumar, Incharge, Disaster Control Centre (DCC), Kangra stated that the DCC received the information late in the evening. About 7-8 workers were missing. 1 worker was seen by locals running towards the jungle. Bodies of 2 workers have been found. Search operations are going on. Similarly, there is not much information available about the extent and nature of damages and financial losses the project has suffered.
Meanwhile in interview byte to ANI Hindi and other media channels on June 26 morning, the local MLA Sudhir Sharma has termed it a man-made disaster. He has also reiterated that 15-20 workers are missing. As per him the body of 1 worker was found 700-800 meters downstream of the project site. Only tyres of JCB and other heavy machines were found, indicating the force of heavily sild laden river. He said that the project site is still inaccessible and many workers are stranded upstream the site.
“My native village is about 1 km away from the project site. The local villagers have informed me about 15-20 workers missing in the disaster”, said the MLA. He has also blamed the state government for ignoring the violation of construction norms by the developer leading to this disaster. As per him the area is prone to flash flood. The penstock of the project was built inside the stream reducing its flood carrying capacity and the government should not have approved the project in this sensitive area.
The MLA said that building sheds for workers were near the drain, and not shifting them when the weather was unsafe areas was negligence and an investigation should be initiated. The MLA also demanded adequate compensation to the family of the deceased. According to officials, the project work had been suspended due to the rain, and the workers were resting in temporary shelters near the site when floodwaters from Manuni Khad and nearby drains diverted towards the labour colony, sweeping several of them away.
The developer has also been accused of conducting excessive mining in the stream to build the project. The local people and media have also blamed the company for blasting away huge stable rocks in the stream. In the past the construction work had damaged the drinking water supply lines. After the protest from the villagers, the Jal Shakti Department had issued the notice to the construction company. Despite this the company continued mining activities.
As per Divya Himachal report, the company has dumped construction debris and muck in the stream and also created stock yard for construction material in the stream. It further mentioned that in the wake of weather alerts and ongoing rains since morning they were resting in their temporary tinshed accommodation located near the stream and were supposed to resume work after the weather clears. But in the afternoon the rain intensified and the stream turned into flood spate. In the nick of time, several workers managed to save their lives by running uphills. Several other workers were reportedly stuck at downstream 1Mw Lungta-Laguni hydro project.
It is worth mentioning that on February 28, 2025, some tippers and JCB machines engaged in mining work were trapped in the stream in sudden rise of water level in the stream. The Google Earth imagery also shows large landslide scars along the stream in the project area. It also shows at least 3 hydro projects Priyadarshini, 1 Mw Lungta-Naguni (Status unknown) and existing 3.5 Mw Munani HEP (Commissioned in April 2017, Power house at Kharota) along about 2.5 km stretch of the stream. There is no information available about impact of the deluge on the other hydro projects.
The company has also been blamed for ignoring the district administration advisory of staying away from rivers during monsoon and when there was weather alert of heavy rainfall. The construction was going on in monsoon season compromising the safety of the workers.
Financial issues: Regarding the debt on company, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) in January 2021 mentioned that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had credited the company a sum of ₹2.88 crore out of which the IPHPPL had not admitted the claim of ₹1.31 crore. The IBBI had then remarked that “Total amount of Subsidy disbursed to the Corporate Debtor to the extent of Rs. 1.57 Crores has been admitted. Clarification regarding Interest claim has been sought.” However, in December 2024, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) had withdrawn IIPHPPL’s bank facility rating after receiving a no dues certificate from the lender and withdrawal request from the issuer. As per Ind-Ra, the Indira Priyadarshini Hydro Power is sponsored by the Ind-Barath group of companies.
We hope the state government launches rescue mission to find out the remaining workers immediately. The government also needs to soon institute an independent inquiry into the disaster.
SANDRP
Post Script 1.: With the recovery of four more bodies, the death toll of workers has increased to 5 as per the latest update. A worker stranded in jungle area has also been rescued. The DC has also appointed SDM Dharamshala to investigate whether the incident was a natural disaster or a result of violations of construction norms by the company. Meanwhile a video clip has captured few workers reacting in panic when the flood spate invaded the project building.
Post Script 2: On June 26 2025, District Magistrate and Chair of District Disaster Management Authority of Mandi district has brought out an order directing all concerned including hydropower developers to ensure that workers do not stay in life threatening locations like riverbanks.
Post Script (27 June 2025, 06:30 PM): This is informative ground report and video probably from about few km downstream from the power house of the project by The Tribune (27 June 2025, 09:30 AM) interviewing fews locals who witnessed the deluge and helped some workers to move to safe location. They also say the stream is prone to flash floods. The steep vally on both sides of the stream makes escaping difficult in such situation. The DC also shared details of five dead workers two from Deoria, UP and one each from Doda (J&K), Chamba and Kangra district.
The visusal shows heavy machines lying in damaged condition in debris filled stream. The motor road severly damaged and fully washed away at places. The rescued worker from jungle identified Lovely Kumar of Chamba states that of 13 workers 5 ran uphill moment before the deluge reached the powerhouse site and 8 workers were washed away. He says that the workers’ shelter was built in riverbed.
One more video clip probably shot by a worker inside powerhouse of the project urging co-workers to leave the site when the flood started invading the under construction building. Sahil a driver was taking fuel to the project site when he came to know about the deluge. He used honking and whistling to alert the other workers. This video report shows a dead body being recovered from the powerhouse building site.
As per Divya Himachal a total 9 workers were missing and 5 bodies have been found. Samachar First reporter managed to reach near the powerhouse site and filed this detailed video report. It shows a heavy crane machine struck down by deluge in the stream and approach road to the powerhouse in severely damaged condition.
Meanwhile another video clip with DHTV tag has surfaced in social media which shows a group of villagers travelling to the head works of the project to raise objection against siltation as result of project’s construction activities affecting the quality of potable water supply to Khaniyara.
The date of the video is not known but it describes the pathetic condition of the stream. The villagers in the video shows the huge amount of muck and debris lying and project machinery parked along the stream. The road construction, mining activities for the project greatly reducing the flood carrying of the stream. At places the stream banks have been flattened. At weir site the sewage from the toilet facilities polluting the stream. Divya Himachal report dated June 27, 2025 have also covered these obvious violations of construction norms by the project developer.
30 June 2025, 22:00 hour: This video probably shot by the workers shows situation around project site after reduction in flood level.
With recovery of one more dead body, the death toll has increased to seven. The dead body was found around 8 km downstream in Siddhbadi along the stream on June 28, 2025. One worker is still missing. The investigation team reached the powerhouse site and inspected water source, pen stock, road construction and mining work done by the project company. The team has found violation of some norms and raised questions regarding work being done during monsoon in riverbed, dump site of the project. They will prepare initial inquiry report and hand it over to DC. So far, the administration has not filed any case against project company and contractors.
Before this, after complaints from locals regarding pollution of potable water supply due to ongoing work of the project, the District Court on May 29, 2025 had directed the administration to probe the matter and submit a report. The report submitted on June 10, 2025 had mentioned about the company running two crushers and doing mining activities without required permission. The mining work had caused damages worth Rs. 12.20 lakh to water supply project.
The company had engaged 10 contractors for the project work. Meanwhile, the contractors had started sending over hundreds of workers to their home which could impact the undergoing investigation.
SANDRP 
