Massive landslide strikes East Sikkim, impacting 18 homes and 510 MW Teesta V project, India

A significant landslide struck Dipu Dara near Singtam in East Sikkim at approximately 07:30 LT on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, causing substantial damage to the Teesta Stage V hydroelectric project and several residential structures. This hydroelectric project was already under reconstruction following damage sustained during a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in October 2023 when at least 40 people were killed and 70 others went missing.

The powerhouse of the 510 MW Teesta Stage V hydroelectric project, operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), suffered considerable damage from the landslide.

The project has been undergoing repairs since the GLOF incident last year, which claimed at least 40 lives, left over 75 people missing, and disrupted the lives of nearly 90 000 residents along the Teesta River. The October 2023 event also severely damaged the downstream 1 200 MW Teesta-III dam.

In addition to the damage to the powerhouse, the landslide also affected approximately 17 – 18 houses in the area. Six of these houses were evacuated, and the residents have been temporarily relocated to the NHPC Guest House in Balutar.

The landslide also rendered the Singtam-Dikchu Road inaccessible. However, authorities have established a temporary diversion through Dochum along the same route to maintain access.

The Department of Mines and Geology has been assigned the task of conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the landslide. Their findings will guide both short-term and long-term measures for restoring the affected area and preventing future incidents.

NHPC’s spokesperson noted that the technical team from Delhi is expected to arrive shortly to assess the damage and determine the best course of action for restoring the hydroelectric project. This team’s recommendations will be critical in formulating a plan to repair the damage and prevent further disruptions to the region’s power supply.

References:

¹ Landslide hits East Sikkim, damages NHPC power project on Teesta – HT – August 21, 2024

Teo Blašković

I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.

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