A catastrophic dam overflown after a cloudburst in Kullu district has caused widespread panic and devastation downstream, highlighting severe safety lapses in Himachal Pradesh’s hydropower infrastructure.
A video circulating on social media this morning intensified anxiety among residents of Himachal Pradesh, particularly in Mandi and Kullu districts. [Watch the video here] https://fb.watch/tH3Y2eHCj1/.
The incident occurred early this morning when a cloudburst hit above the Malana II project in the Parbati Valley region. ” Earlier the water was less but later it started increasing beyond holding capacity,” informed the plant head. Reactively, the gates of the Malana II Dam were opened slowly as per protocol, and Malana I, located downstream, was informed, he added. The Malana Dam No. 1 and Malana Dam No. 2, key components of the Malana Power Project owned by Bhilwara and Greenko groups, were affected.
The cloudburst led to an accumulation of muck, boulders damaging the switchyard and the Malana II project. ” Therefore the gates were opened as per protocol. But since the dam does not have capacity to hold this volume of water it resulted in the flooding taking toll on infrastructure,” they added. Malana I, lacks floodgate, and has only a reservoir which was overwhelmed by the surge of water.
The cloudburst and subsequent dam overflow released approximately 4.70 million cusecs of water, causing extensive damage. At least nine individuals are reported missing in Mandi district, a bridge was washed away, and significant road blockages occurred. A private bus parked along the roadside was also swept away near Sainj, illustrating the severe impact on local infrastructure.
Despite the gravity of the situation, authorities have not yet issued a detailed response. This incident follows last year’s malfunction at the Malana Project, where a floodgate failed to open during an emergency, raising serious concerns about dam safety protocols.
Also read:NDRF battling nature’s wrath to open jammed gate of Malana HPP stage 2
The dam officials claimed the gates were functional this time and attributed the disaster solely to the volume of water from the cloudburst. They asserted that all protocols were followed.
The District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) Kullu reported heavy precipitation and rising water levels in the Pin Parvati River, with a flash flood occurring around 5:42 AM in Malana. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to rescue stranded individuals along the Beas River near Charuru village.
This disaster underscores the urgent need for rigorous oversight and improved safety measures for dams in Himachal Pradesh, where numerous hydropower projects pose significant risks to life and property.
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A tragedy of immense proportions. But this was a man made disaster and we cannot blame nature for it. For years experts have been shouting not to build dams in the sensitive Himalayan region but politicians and contractors ignored it. Alas, the guilty will never be punoshed because life of ordinary Indians matter only during elections.