Interview: Every disaster also presents an opportunity to learn

September 10, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

Q: “This incident has indicated that the risks we face in the Himalayan region are increasing with climate change,” said Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Can we just blame it all on climate change and ignore the role aggressive development poses in an ecologically fragile zone? Or is climate change indeed the main villain?

ANS: Climate Change is a likely trigger for the Rasuwa flood disaster that Nepal and Tibet are facing, starting from the morning of Aug 26, 2026, though the scientists say this needs further studies. But the extent of the disaster depends on a number of factors including callous way in which major interventions have been taken up in the region, including large number of hydropower projects, knowing fully well the inherent vulnerabilities of the Himalayan region accentuated by climate change, by lack of early warning systems, absence of functioning disaster management system including emergency action plans.

Feature image above: Nepal Army rescues people trapped inside hydropower tunnels on Trishuli River Photo: PMO Office, Nepal video

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Aug 2026: Eleven Killed in THDC’s Vishnugad-Pipalkoti HEP Tunnel Disaster

August 17, 2026August 26, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Rescuers using make shift raft made of plastic drums to search for the missing workers inside flooded Vishnugad-Pipalkoti HEP. Source: Amar Ujala/Aug. 14, 2026)

At least eight workers have been killed in a major disaster inside the tunnel of under-construction Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (HEP) on Aug. 13, 2026 in Uttarakhand. The incident occurring between 6:30 and 7:00 pm inside the project’s Tail Race Tunnel (TRT) near Mayapur area in Chamoli district, has also left 12 workers injured and two still missing. The rescued workers have sustained fractures and other trauma injuries and are currently under treatment. The disaster happened about 1.5 km inside the 3 km long TRT, being constructed between Durgapur to Siyasain area in Pipalkoti.

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Beas · Climate Change · Dams · Disasters · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster

Himachal Pradesh: Sainj HEP Remains Out of Operation for over 4 months

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Outlet of Sainj HEP powerhouse tunnel buried under silt in last week of June 2025. Source: Hariram Chaudhary, Sainj)

The Sainj Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh has been out of operation for over the past four months. The 100 Mw project of the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) is the fourth HEP which was severely affected by flash flood in Jiwa nullah on June 25, 2025.

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Disasters · floodplains · Floods · Yamuna River

Sept 2025: Why did Yamuna Repeat July 2023 Like Flood Spell in Delhi?

September 9, 2025September 15, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: NDRF team gazing at flooded relief camps at Yamuna bazar, Delhi)

In first week of September 2025, Yamuna river in Delhi has again witnessed another unusual flood spell. This is happening two years after the river recorded unprecedent flood event in July 2023. This report compares the July 2023 flood with the one in Sept 2025 underlining the probable factors making these deluges uncommon and man-made flood disaster.

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Climate Change · Disasters · Environmental Laws · Himalayas

DRP 080925: Will the higher judiciary Listen?

September 8, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Seraj valley in Mandi district of Himachal battered by extreme weather events in July 2025)

Well known environmentalist Manshi Asher through the following article is giving a very important message that everyone, particularly Judiciary needs to listen and act upon. While higher judiciary is rightly highly respected, its track record on acting on environmental issues is far from satisfactory and leaves a lot to be desired.

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Climate Change · Dam floods · Disasters

Aug 2025: Surwal Dam Floods Villages in Sawai Madhopur-Rajasthan

August 26, 2025August 27, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Surwal dam flood creates a huge crater in Jarwata village in Sawai Madhopur)

Overflowing of Surwal dam in Rajasthan has severely affected over a dozen villages for more than three days. The dam in Sawai Madhopur district overflowed following excessive rainfall on Aug 22-24, 2025[i]. The Surwal, Mainpura, Jarwata were among the most affected villages where several houses were submerged under 3-5 feet flood water damaging foodgrains and other essential items.

At least 13 people have been reported dead in the district in this flood episode.

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Climate Change · Dams · Disasters · Himalayas · Yamuna River

Aug 2025: Yamuna Flows Blocked at Syana Chatti in Uttarakhand

August 22, 2025August 23, 2025 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: Buildings submerged in artificial lake following blockage in Yamuna river at Syana Chatti)

Blockage of Yamuna flows has resulted in formation of an artificial lake in the Yamuna river on August 21, 2025 at Syana Chatti in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The lake is a result of debris and mud floods in Kupada khad (Garh gaad) after the rains in the morning. The water level in the lake dipped in the afternoon and increased again following fresh debris slide from the stream without any rain activity around 04:30 pm.

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Bhagirathi · Climate Change · Disasters · Floods · Ganga · Himalayas

Dharali Disaster: Bhagirathi River Blockage Partially Removed

August 17, 2025August 22, 2025 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: Formation of artificial lake in Bhagirathi river at Harshil, Uttarkashi)

After 11 days since the Dharali disaster unfolded in Bhagirathi valley Uttarakhand on August 5, 2025, an artificial lake formed on Bhagirathi river has been removed to some extent by the joint team of concerned departments on Aug 16, 2025 noon. The lake was formed after the Tel gaad partially blocked the Bhagirathi river at Harshil about 2.5 km downstream of Dharali.

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Climate Change · Disasters · Ganga · GLOF · Himalayas · Uttarakhand

DRP 110825: Non-Implementation of NDMA’s 2020 GLOF Guidelines Worsened Dharali Disaster

August 11, 2025 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: Mud, debris following flashfloods at Dharali)

The following Indian Express report highlights some key aspects of the Oct 2020 guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority related to disasters caused by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF). Unfortunately, as is clear from the recent Dharali disaster most key aspects of the guidelines remain unimplemented almost five years after the Guidelines were published. Had they been implemented with any seriousness, the proportions of the Dharali disaster would have been significantly reduced.

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Climate Change · Disasters

Dharali Disaster in Uttarakhand: Amplified by Human Causes

August 9, 2025August 19, 2025 SANDRP1 Comment

The frightening debris-laden flash flood disaster at Dharali town along Kheer Gad-Bhagirathi river just 20 km downstream of Gangotri at around 1.30 pm on Tuesday, Aug 5 has demolished over 40 buildings, with scores (68 as on Aug 13 as per the Dehradun-based State Emergency Operation Centre) of people, including nine army jawans, reported missing (the numbers could go up as per several geologists) and at least five dead. The ground zero is still largely inaccessible four days after the disaster. While the full details of what caused the disaster are still a bit uncertain, what is clear is that the warning signs were present, they were ignored and a number of human causes amplified the proportions of the disaster. The scene of the disaster was similar to what we saw in Chamoli in Feb 2021 when ice and debris laden stream destroyed two hydropower projects killed over a hundred people.

As geologists said, the disaster was waiting to happen, but our governance did not seem to know.

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