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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Beas · Climate Change · Himalayas · Small Hydro

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

October 10, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

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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Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Power Projects · Sutlej

Lippa Villagers Blame Kashang HEP for Artificial Lake in Sutlej Basin

September 29, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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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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 · Cloud Burst · Hydro Disaster · Rivers

Aug 2025: Flashflood Damages Malana-I HEP in Himachal Pradesh Again

August 3, 2025 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: Flashflood breached Malana I HEP coffer dam & washed away vehicles on Aug. 01, 2025 in Kullu district, HP)

The controversial Malana-I hydroelectric power (HEP) project has again faced significant damages by a ‘cloudburst’ induced flashflood disaster in afternoon of Aug 1, 2025. The 86 Mw project is based on Malana stream, a tributary of Parvati in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Interestingly, the project’s dam site had suffered major destruction exactly one year ago on Aug 1, 2024 in a similar ‘cloudburst’ disaster.

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Climate Change · Glaciers · Hydro Disaster

July 2025: GLOF Disaster Impact Ten HEPs in Nepal

July 24, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Pre and post flood images of Tibet’s Pyurepu Glacier region. Source)

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) disaster in Lehende Khola river impacted several hydro-electric power (HEP) projects in Nepal on July 8, 2025. The deadly flood occurred around 3 am in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts of Nepal bordering Tibet region under China control. As a result, the water level in Lehende river rose by 3.5 meters in Timure, Rasuwa. The merging of Kerung and Lehende rivers in Tibet forms the Bhotekoshi river in Nepal and it is part of Trishuli sub-basin under Narayani river system.

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Climate Change · Cloud Burst · Disasters · Himalayas

Jammu-Srinagar NH-44 An Unfolding Long Term Disaster in Ramban District?

May 21, 2025May 23, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Social media image showing scroes of vehicles precariously standing on severely damaaged NH 44 in Ramban on April 20, 2025)

After April 20, 2025 ‘cloudburst’ disaster in Ramban, the role of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH) 44 has been under criticism for adding into the devastation trail. While a significant portion of the NH has been severely damaged in the aftermath, the residents have also blamed the NH work for compromising the drainage system and increasing destruction toll in the affected area.

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Climate Change · Disasters · Himalayas

CWC, IMD Need to Improve Extreme Weather Forecast Services

May 17, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

The rising numbers and intensity of western disturbances (WDs) in pre-monsoon months are causing excessive but short rainfall spells across the country particularly in the Himalayan states. These events are then resulting in sudden flash floods and taking a huge toll on human life and public infrastructure. However, the specific monitoring and warning services for such disasters by the Central Water Commission (CWC) & Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) are largely unavailable as these agencies are mainly forecasting floods during the monsoon.

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Hydro Disaster

July 2024: ‘Cloudburst’ in Beas Basin Damages 2 HEPs in Himachal Pradesh

August 3, 2024August 6, 2024 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Flashflood ravaged 9 Mw Beas Kund HEP Powerhouse complex. Image Source: News on Air)

The cloudburst induced flashflood destruction took place late on July 25, 2024 in Palchan area of Manali tehsil in Kullu district. Many of the media reports have also mentioned about the deluge damaging a hydroelectric power (HEP) project in Palchan just in a single line without revealing any details or even the name of the HEP.

While looking for more information about the affected HEP, we came to know that not just one but two HEPs have faced significant damages due to the flashflood incident. Both projects are owned and run by private companies in upper Beas River basin.

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Dam Induced Flood Disaster

July 2024: NMDC’s Iron Ore ‘Check-Dam’ Flood Disaster in Chhattisgarh

July 26, 2024 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Screenshot of NMDC’s ‘check-dam’ in flooded condition. Image Credit: NDTV MP/Chhattisgarh)

An iron ore check-dam of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NDMC) has breached and created flood disaster in downstream area of Kirandul town in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. The breach of earthen dam located between mines 11 B & 11 in eastern ridge of Bailadila range occurred around 3 pm on Jul 21, 2024 following heavy rainfall.

The subsequent deluge has affected several homes and vehicles in Bengali camp located downhill the dam in Kirandul town. There was chaos among the residents who fled to their safety seeing the flash flood. A six-year-old kid on his way to attend tuition class was washed away. The child was later rescued safely and hospitalized as per the Amar Ujala report.

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