Massive Landslide Hits NHPC’s Teesta Stage 5 Power Station in Sikkim, No Casualties Reported
Desk Report, August 20, 2024: In a catastrophic event on Tuesday, a massive landslide destroyed NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta Stage 5 power station located in Balutar, Sikkim. The landslide, which had been anticipated due to weeks of minor slides from the adjacent hill, escalated drastically when a large section of the hill collapsed, obliterating the facility.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as the power station had been preemptively evacuated in response to the ongoing threat of landslides. The incident was captured on video by workers in the area, further highlighting the scale of the devastation.
The Teesta Stage 5 dam had already faced severe challenges, having been rendered non-operational after the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in October 2023. The GLOF caused widespread damage and flooding throughout the Teesta River Basin, overwhelming the dam and halting its operations. Reconstruction efforts were underway when this recent landslide struck, adding another layer of difficulty to the ongoing recovery process.
This incident underscores the persistent geological risks in the region and the challenges faced in maintaining critical infrastructure in such vulnerable areas.
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