SHIMLA/KULLU: Battered by heavy rain and flash floods, a temporary dam in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district collapsed Friday, sweeping away heavy machinery and triggering panic in downstream areas. No casualties were reported.
The cofferdam breach sent a torrent of water crashing into the Malana-I hydroelectric project site. It gave way after the Malana rivulet in Parvati Valley overflowed, clogged with debris that blocked its drainage pipes, an official said. The resulting surge of water inundated the project site, damaging critical infrastructure and equipment. The project site had suffered massive damage last year as well after a flash flood in the rivulet. The Himachal administration is keeping a close watch on all its dams. According to the state emergency operation centre, water levels were within permissible operational limits till 5pm on Saturday. Bajoliholi dam and Baira dam on the Ravi basin, and Sainj Barrage and Largi Barrage on the Beas basin have shut down their plants due to high silt and maintenance. The Malana-II hydroelectric project on the Beas basin has been shut since the flash flood, and the dam gates are open.
Over 200km away, Una district was pounded by 222.8mm rain since Friday evening. Roads, homes and markets are flooded. Education institutions have been closed, and the public has been requested not to go near water bodies.
Una district had recorded 1,854% excess rainfall till Saturday evening compared to a normal rainfall of 11.4mm, according to the weather department. The rains resulted in flooding of Chandigarh-Dharamshala NH at various places.
Una deputy commissioner Jatin Lal said, "Till 4pm, we had faced Rs 27 crore losses." Met has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in Shimla, Solan & Sirmaur districts. As many as 404 roads, including NH-505 in Lahaul & Spiti, were blocked Saturday. Mandi was the worst hit.
The cofferdam breach sent a torrent of water crashing into the Malana-I hydroelectric project site. It gave way after the Malana rivulet in Parvati Valley overflowed, clogged with debris that blocked its drainage pipes, an official said. The resulting surge of water inundated the project site, damaging critical infrastructure and equipment. The project site had suffered massive damage last year as well after a flash flood in the rivulet. The Himachal administration is keeping a close watch on all its dams. According to the state emergency operation centre, water levels were within permissible operational limits till 5pm on Saturday. Bajoliholi dam and Baira dam on the Ravi basin, and Sainj Barrage and Largi Barrage on the Beas basin have shut down their plants due to high silt and maintenance. The Malana-II hydroelectric project on the Beas basin has been shut since the flash flood, and the dam gates are open.
Over 200km away, Una district was pounded by 222.8mm rain since Friday evening. Roads, homes and markets are flooded. Education institutions have been closed, and the public has been requested not to go near water bodies.
Una district had recorded 1,854% excess rainfall till Saturday evening compared to a normal rainfall of 11.4mm, according to the weather department. The rains resulted in flooding of Chandigarh-Dharamshala NH at various places.
Una deputy commissioner Jatin Lal said, "Till 4pm, we had faced Rs 27 crore losses." Met has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in Shimla, Solan & Sirmaur districts. As many as 404 roads, including NH-505 in Lahaul & Spiti, were blocked Saturday. Mandi was the worst hit.
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