Hydropower projects have been damaged in a fatal flooding incident in Uttarakhand state in India, caused by a portion of a Himalayan glacier breaking off.
The plants affected have been named as the 520MW Tapovan Vishnugad project, which is owned by NTPC, and the 13.2MW Rishiganga project, which is privately owned. Newswire reports have suggested that over 150 workers at the hydropower plants are missing, with nine confirmed dead, as a result of the flooding created when a part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off creating an avalanche.
Water and debris trapped behind the glacier was reported to have been released, damaging the plants and houses in the area. There are reports of workers trapped in tunnels at the hydropower plants, and rescue services are in the area.
According to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, 140 workers were missing at the Tapovan Vishnugad site, while 17 were missing at the Rishiganga project location.
The Rishiganga project is located in the Raini village on the Rishiganga River, a tributary to Dhauliganga. The under construction Tapovan Vishnugad hydro project was reportedly partly damaged.
“While rescue operations are on, situation is being monitored continuously with the help of district administration and likely loss or damage caused is being assessed. Appropriate insurance cover is available for the loss/damage caused,” stated NTPC, in a stock exchange filing. “However, considering the total size of operations of NTPC Limited (present standalone commercial capacity 51310 MW and group commercial capacity 63925 MW), the impact of above event on the company as a whole may not be considered material in terms of Para B of Part A of Schedule III of SEBI (LODR), Regulations, 2015.”
