GANGTOK: The aftermath of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) continues to plague Sikkim as a massive landslide on Tuesday morning destroyed the power station of NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta Stage 5 dam in Balutar, Sikkim.
The adjacent hill to the power station had been unstable for weeks, with frequent minor landslides. On Tuesday morning, a large section of the hill collapsed and obliterated the power station.
The alternative road connecting Singtam town with Mangan district has been disrupted. The road served as a highway for Army vehicle movement, since the other route via Gangtok was disrupted by landslides last month.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported as the power station had been evacuated days prior due to earlier landslides. Workers nearby recorded the event on their phones.
The Teesta Stage 5 dam had been rendered defunct after the October 2023 GLOF, which caused devastating flash floods across Sikkim. These floods were triggered by the collapse of the South Lhonak glacial lake in North Sikkim, leading to a rapid surge of water down the Teesta River.
The floods destroyed infrastructure, homes, and left several areas isolated. The Teesta Stage 5 dam was severely damaged during the event and had been undergoing reconstruction.
This latest landslide adds to the challenges faced by reconstruction efforts in the region.
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