Category: Himalayas

Himachal Pradesh: Sainj HEP Remains Out of Operation for over 4 months
Beas · Climate Change · Dams · Disasters · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster

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

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(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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2025: Hydro Projects Accidents & Disasters in Himalaya
Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · River Valley Projects

2025: Hydro Projects Accidents & Disasters in Himalaya

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The accidents and disasters occurring particularly during monsoon months have affected several Hydro Electric Projects (HEP) both built and under construction in Himalayan states of India. In this overview, we put together information about such disasters to underline their increasing vulnerabilities to climatic disasters endangering the lives of workers and local people living in the vicinity of these projects.

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Himachal Pradesh: Kullu Villagers Demand Suspension of Sarbari-I SHEP
Beas · Climate Change · Himalayas · Small Hydro

Himachal Pradesh: Kullu Villagers Demand Suspension of Sarbari-I SHEP

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Blaming Sarbari I Small Hydro Power (HEP) project for causing reoccurring disasters, the villagers of Mashana panchayat in Lag Valley of Kullu district have demanded suspension of the 4.5 Mw project operation. As per the villagers the leakages in the surge shaft and head race tunnel and burst of penstock of the project in August and Sept. months this year have caused landslides and flash flood disasters impacting their land and livelihoods. They have said that due to these disasters about 80 meter Mashana link road, some houses, a water tank and over hundreds of bigha of fertile farmland have been severely damaged.   

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Lippa Villagers Blame Kashang HEP for Artificial Lake in Sutlej Basin
Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Power Projects · Sutlej

Lippa Villagers Blame Kashang HEP for Artificial Lake in Sutlej Basin

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(Feature Image: Sept. 07, 2025 pics showingg houses submerged in artificial lake in Lippa village)

It has been over three weeks since an artificial lake formed in Lippa village under Pooh division of Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh has not been breached fully. The lake was formed after flashflood in Pajer nullah in Sutlej river basin on Sept 4, 2025 which blocked the flow of Kerang stream. Subsequently, first floors of about 5 homes were submerged in the lake water. The deluge also damaged 5 irrigation channels, 2 potable water sources & several apple plants.

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DRP 080925: Will the higher judiciary Listen?
Climate Change · Disasters · Environmental Laws · Himalayas

DRP 080925: Will the higher judiciary Listen?

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(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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Aug 2025: Landslide Damages NHPC’s Dhauliganga HEP in Uttarakhand
Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · Landslide · Uttarakhand

Aug 2025: Landslide Damages NHPC’s Dhauliganga HEP in Uttarakhand

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A landslide incident has partially damaged the power house tunnel of NHCP’s Dhauliganga HEP in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. The incident occurred in the evening of Aug 30, 2025 after heavy rainfall also blocked the mouth of underground tunnel with rocks and debris. The HEP is built on Dhauliganga river in Dharchula tehsil of the district.

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Vulnerable Nallahs in the Himalayas Need Urgent Attention
Beas · Chenab · Climate Change · Dams · Floods · Himalayas

Vulnerable Nallahs in the Himalayas Need Urgent Attention

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“When Jahlma Nallah starts roaring, we cannot sleep. It has been flooding for the past three years at least” said octogenarian Devi Singhji in October 2024. Jahlma Nallah, which joins the Chenab and blocks it occasionally, flooded again catastrophically in the monsoon of 2025.

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Aug 2025: Yamuna Flows Blocked at Syana Chatti in Uttarakhand
Climate Change · Dams · Disasters · Himalayas · Yamuna River

Aug 2025: Yamuna Flows Blocked at Syana Chatti in Uttarakhand

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(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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Dharali Disaster: Bhagirathi River Blockage Partially Removed
Bhagirathi · Climate Change · Disasters · Floods · Ganga · Himalayas

Dharali Disaster: Bhagirathi River Blockage Partially Removed

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(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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DRP 110825: Non-Implementation of NDMA’s 2020 GLOF Guidelines Worsened Dharali Disaster
Climate Change · Disasters · Ganga · GLOF · Himalayas · Uttarakhand

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

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(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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