July 2026: 25 Workers Killed in NHPC Teesta-VI HEP Tunnel Disaster in Sikkim

July 24, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Joint rescue and recovery operation at Teesta VI HEP tunnel site in Samardung, Sikkim: Image credit: PTI/Source: ETV Bharat)

The methane leak and explosion disaster on 20 July 2026 inside the under-construction ADIT-III tunnel of NHPC’s 500 MW Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project (HEP) at Samardung in South Sikkim claimed the lives of all 25 trapped workers, making it one of the worst tunnel accidents in India’s hydropower sector.

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Climate Change · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · Sutlej

July 2026: Recurring Artificial Lake Floods Lippa in Sutlej Basin

July 22, 2026July 22, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Google Earth image showing Lippa village, Pejar and Kerang streams and location of artificial lake in red circle.)

A flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall on 9 July 2026 created an artificial lake in Lippa village under Pooh subdivision of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. The deluge originated in the Pejar (Pager) nallah, which carried huge amount of boulders, debris and slush into the Kerang stream (Teti khad) blocking its natural flow. The obstruction caused water to accumulate rapidly, creating an artificial lake at the confluence of Pejar and Kerang stream.

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Chenab · Climate Change · Hydro Disaster

July 2026: Flash Flood Disaster at Kwar HEP Site in Chenab Valley, J&K

July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Screenshots from Akashvani News Jammu video showing flash flood imapct at Kwar HEP site on July 06, 2026.)

A major flash flood and landslide on July 06, 2026 affected the Kwar Hydroelectric Project (HEP) near Padhyarna in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The disaster occurred in the early morning hours following intense overnight rainfall.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 060726: India needs to improve Rainfall Monitoring?

July 6, 2026July 6, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: A manual rain guage in Syunsal village of Pauri district, Uttarakhand. Bhim Singh Rawat/SANDRP)

Two reports from Karnataka this week highlight that over half of the 6605 rain gauges in Karnataka are non-functional. Earlier we saw that IMD does not even report rainfall for at least 11 districts in Arunachal Pradesh alone, possibly since it does not have adequate number of rain gauges in those newly formed districts of Arunachal Pradesh. IMD’s Annual Report for 2025 says P 59): “IMD operates 1,008 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), 1,382 Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) stations, 200 Agro-AWS, 5 Automatic Snow Gauge (ASG) stations”. That comes to 2395 locations where rain or snow is measured by IMD, going by the Annual Report. IMD apparently uses rainfall data from other agencies, but their number is not given in the report. IMD also has a large number of manual rain gauges, but the IMD Annual Report does not provide those numbers.

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CWC - Central Water Commission · Floods · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · Monsoon

June 2026: Flash Flood Disaster at NEEPCO’s HEP Site in Arunachal Pradesh

June 25, 2026June 26, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Scren grab of flash flood passing through NEEPCO 43 Colony at PLHEP site in mornng hour of June 24, 2026. Source: Pratidin Time news)

A severe flash flood spell in the Poosa–Yazali area of Keyi Panyor district, Arunachal Pradesh on June 24, 2026, has significantly affected NEEPCO’s 43 colony located near the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project (PLHEP) site, close to the reservoir of the HEP. The disaster occurred around 6 in the morning, heavy spell creating a cloud burst like situation.

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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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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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