Sikkim, 20th August: A massive landslide devastated the power station of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s (NHPC) Teesta Stage 5 dam on Tuesday morning. The 510 MW power station had been under threat due to frequent minor landslides in recent weeks. On Tuesday, a significant portion of the adjacent hill collapsed, burying the power station under tons of debris.
Fortunately, there were no injuries or casualties, as the power station had been evacuated days earlier in anticipation of such an event. Videos captured by nearby workers show the cliff shifting before a large section falls onto the power station, causing panic.
The Teesta Stage 5 dam has remained non-operational since the Lhonak glacial lake burst after a cloudburst in October 2023. This event triggered a massive flash flood, washing away parts of the Teesta Dam at Chungthang, the largest hydropower project in Sikkim. Footage from the October disaster showed significant damage to the dam, with large portions of its wall missing as the Teesta River surged through the Mangan district.