3 dead in pipe burst at Himachal hydel plant

At least three people are feared dead and four were injured after a penstock pipe of 3.25-metre diameter burst at the 100MW Sorang Hydroelectric plant at Sorang village in Kinnaur district on Wednesday night, police said.  

According to a report, a resident and six people were washed away after the penstock pipe burst. Deputy commissioner NK Lath said around six houses and around 150 cattle were also washed away in this incident. Penstock is an intake structure which delivers water into hydro turbines.

“Relief operations are in full swing and immediate help is being provided to those affected in the incident. I have ordered a magesterial enquiry, which will be headed by SDM Bhabanagar,” said Lath. He said a technician and an engineer would be a part of the enquiry committee and they will submit the report within 15 days.

The project is owned by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA). The project was initially allotted to Satyam Company and was later resold to this foreign investor. 

TAQA is an international energy and water company operating in 11 countries across four continents (North America, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and India).

TAQA company officials in a press release said, “We (HSPL) can confirm two contractors working at the Sorang hydropower plant in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh are missing following an incident which is believed to involve a failure within a section of the facility’s penstock pipeline.