Bhutan · Hydro Disaster

Oct 2025: Bhutan’s Tala Dam Overtopped

In a major scary incident, the Tala Dam on Wangchhu River in Chukha district of south Bhutan has overtopped for the first time ever, on Oct 5 following unprecedented rainfall in western Bhutan, prompting flood warnings for downstream areas in India’s north Bengal. Bhutan’s NCHM confirmed that DGPC reported that the dam gates failed to open, leading to river water flowing over the dam, considered most dangerous situation for any dam as dams are not designed for such an eventuality.

Continue reading “Oct 2025: Bhutan’s Tala Dam Overtopped”
Bhutan · Hydropower

Changing profile of India’s Hydro Power Import from Bhutan

Punatsanghchu River in Bhutan, All Photos by SANDRP
Punatsanghchu River in Bhutan, All Photos by SANDRP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been saying to Nepal and others that Bhutan is a good example to show how a country can prosper from hydropower generation and export. During his trip to Bhutan in June 2014, soon after taking over as Prime Minister of India, he said, “Our Hydropower cooperation with Bhutan is a classic example of win-win cooperation and a model for the entire region.”

However, this hydropower import by India from Bhutan is not a new development. Central Electricity Authority under Union Ministry of Power provides[1], in its monthly reports, power import from Bhutan, these figures are available since 2005-06. Continue reading “Changing profile of India’s Hydro Power Import from Bhutan”