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 · 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 · Cloud Burst · Dams · Hydro Disaster

June 2025: NHPC Parbati II, III HEPs damaged in floods

June 29, 2025June 29, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Screen shot of remaining portion of washed away tin-shed of NHPC’s Parbati II HEP)

In addition to severely damaging the Jiwa and Priyadarshini small hydro power projects, the ‘cloudburst’ induced flash floods on June 25, 2025 has also significantly affected the Parbati II & III projects in Sainj Valley of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh.

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Climate Change · Cloud Burst · Hydro Disaster

June 2025: ‘Cloudburst’ damages Jiwa hydro project in Sainj Valley, Himachal Pradesh

June 27, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Submerged powerhouse of Jiwa SHP in Siund, Sainj. Source: Amar Ujala)

A massive flash flood following a ‘cloudburst’ has totally damaged the powerhouse and weir site of the Jiwa Small Hydroelectric Project (SHP) in Sainj Valley of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh on June 25, 2025. The powerhouse of 1 Mw SHP is located in Siund village area near the confluence point of Jiwa nullah with Pin Parbati river. Its weir site is located about 2 km upstream on the Jiwa stream.

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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

Himachal Pradesh: 12 More HEPs Impacted by Cloudburst Disaster in July 2024

August 16, 2024 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Flashflood damaged Malana I HEP dam site & Sechi HEP powerhouse in Beas & Satluj basin. Image source: Social Media.)

The multiple cloudburst incidents between July 29 and August 01, 2024, has caused large scale devastation in Kullu and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh. The initial media reports in brief have mentioned that two hydro electric-power (HEP) projects namely 85 Mw Malana-I and 14 Mw GreeenKo Project being damaged by the flashfloods. The follow up reports have extensive coverage on rescue and relief works, but not much is revealed about scale of damages to the HEP projects.

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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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Hydro Disaster

Parbati-II Leakage disaster in Himachal Pradesh in Nov 2023

November 20, 2023November 20, 2023 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Water stream flowing though Parbati -II hydro project tunnel on Nov. 17, 2023. Image Source: Divya Himachal)

The controversial Parbati-II hydro power project has suffered another major setback after massive water leakages was witnessed from the drainage gallery of its power house in the evening on Nov 17, 2023. The sudden gushing down of water from the tunnel caused panic among project staff and local people. About two dozen workers had to run away to save their lives. The water leakages resembled a flowing river as seen in this video report by Divya Himachal.

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Cloud Burst

Himachal Pradesh 2023: How we are turning ‘Cloudbursts’ into Deadly Disasters

November 9, 2023January 3, 2024 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Primary School Building in Kuklah, Mandi buried under ‘cloudburst’ induced flashflood debris. Source: ETV Bharat)

In South West Monsoon season 2023, the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh has witnessed several ‘cloudburst’ incidents adding to the death tolls and infrastructural destruction on account of excessive rains, landslides and flash floods. SANDRP has compiled a detailed report on the subject here and this account highlights the summary of the report. Our previous analysis on ‘cloudburst’ incident in Himachal Pradesh state can be seen here 2022 (39 incidents); 2021(30 incidents); 2020 (3 incidents); 2019 (16 incidents); 2018 (21 incidents).

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