Survey of parts of the Teesta Valley (Part I) in Sep2024 - Impact of a landslide on 20Aug2024 at NHPC Stage V Power Station complex at Baluatar (Singtam)-Sikkim.

NHPC has a large residential/administrative complex at Baluatar (Singtam), SIkkim (27 15 1.8 N  88 27 34.1 E) parts of which were severely damaged by the 04Oct 2023 GLOF. We have done an extensive photo report of the area here
The area also houses the power station complex of the NHPC (510MW) Stage V (Dikchu) dam which was also severely damaged by the GLOF and which we have covered in our report here
On 20Aug2024, a major landslide occurred approximately below Dipu Dara, a small hamlet on the Singtam-Dikchu road which damaged the GIS building of the power station:

Report from 'The Telegraph' on the landslide and our update.

The GIS building of the Dikchu (Stage V) power house which was severely damaged by the landslide on 20Aug2024 (photo dated 19Nov2023). The landslide occurred from behind the white building.

This technical complex adjacent the GIS building was totally buried by the landslide on 20Aug2024 (photo dated 19Nov2023).

Dipu Dara village and the landslide at the power station. Dipu Dara residents recollect hearing a loud rumble at around 7.30am on 20Aug2024.

The damaged GIS building and buried adjacent technical structures. The bridge at the extreme right hand, lower corner has been newly constructed after the old one was washed away last year (see below)

NHPC bridge across Teesta river which was destroyed in 04Oct2023 GLOF (photo dated 19Nov2023).

Close up view of the landslide and Dipu Dara. There are 5 homes in the vicinity of the landslide crown which had been evacuated and the Dikchu - Singtam road seen here was closed for 6 days. Locals say the area was a sinking zone and some blame NHPC tunnels but the fact is that rainfall was not a trigger for this landslide.

View of the landslide and parts of the NHPC complex at Baluatar (Singtam), Sikkim which lie across the Teesta river. During and soon after the landslide on 20Aug, there were rumors that the landslide had dammed the river but the width of the valley here is huge as can be seen in this photo.

The Dikchu-Singtam road at Dipu Dara (27 15 8.0 N  88 27 38.7 E, elevation 577.2m). This section of the road was closed for 6 days after 20Aug204 and the traffic diverted thru an alternate route. The landslide took place directly below this place which some locals say was always a sinking area.

Documentation of the above report supported by Royal Enfield, as part of their Social Mission Initiative


Praful Rao
SaveTheHills
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

 

 

Photographic record of the impact of 04Oct2023 GLOF on NHPC assets at SIngtam, Sikkim

BALUATAR, SINGTAM (27 15 1.8 N  88 27 34.1 E)

While returning from our visit to North Sikkim on 19Nov2023, we stopped by at Baluatar, Singtam to check the impact of the GLOF on the large NHPC complex there. It consists of the NHPC Stage V (Dikchu dam) power station, the Office of CEO, LANCO Teesta Hydro Electric Project, quarters for NHPC officers and personnel, a Kendriya Vidyalaya school, hospital and shopping complex .

View of the damage from NH10.

The damage to the assets has been huge with the bridge connecting the opposite bank at Baluatar washed away:

The whole area was deserted so we could not check when this area was hit by the GLOF, their experience or ascertain what was damaged except that which was immediately visible to us:

Damaged machinery outside the Stage V Power Station.

The raw power of nature is evident from these steel rods which have been bent and torn off. From photographs on the internet, there was a playground here and a lot of trees and greenery. The GLOF has swiped away everything and dumped almost 10 feet of sludge/sand  here.

Damaged electrical components of NHPC Stage VI dam complex at Baluatar

What appears to be a workshop covered with tons of sludge. A bus lies partially buried in the debris.

A structure excavated from approx 12 feet of sludge at the NHPC Stage VI complex.

 

NHPC TEESTA STAGE VI Hydro Electric Project Barrage at Sirwani, SINGTAM             (27 14 34.9 N  88 28 37.8 E)

The barrage, with what appears to be ruins of the bridge (see map) which was swept down by the GLOF

Literally every crevice and nook along the path of the GLOF has been filled up with millions of tree stumps. The destruction of forests by the GLOF should be quantified to know how much was lost to the floods.
This is the STAGE VI dam at Sirwani, SIngtam on 19Nov2023.

Praful Rao
Kalimpong district
Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalaya
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

with

Praveen Chhetri
Junkeri Studios,
Kalimpong
junkeristudio@gmail.com
9733185815

Flood scare in Sikkim and Kalimpong district (W.Bengal) - 17Jun2019

The Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalaya has thus far had very deficient in rainfall (see below)

 The SW monsoons finally arrived over the Darjeeling Sikkim Himalayas on 16Jun2019 almost 10 days late and we had relief from the heat here when there was a smattering of rainfall given by clouds shown:

Rainfall figures for 16/17Jun2019 are given (source IMD):

So I was rather surprised when we started getting flood alert messages from Sikkim on 17Jun afternoon on WhatsApp, that due to a 'cloud burst' in North Sikkim, the level of the Teesta river was rising dramatically and parts of Singtam (Adarsh Gaon), a business town one hour short of Gangtok and other low lying areas along NH10 were in danger.

Having kept a close look on the weather and rainfall of the region, which was nowhere near extreme, I personally feel that the dams at Chungthang and Dikchu in Sikkim had released large volumes of water after the rains which resulted in the Teesta river level rising sharply. I am aware that most of these dams are run-of-the-river dams, yet considering the steep descent path of the Teesta river and its turbulence, I do believe the volumes of water released caused the flood-like situation.
In this regard, I refer readers to the Youtube video below:

Updates on the above event:
Rainfall data of 17/18Jun (0830hrs to 0830hrs) available now:
Sankalan: 140mm
Mangan: 70mm
Chungthang: 50mm
(Source IMD)

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong district,
Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya