The largest hydroelectric dam in Sikkim, which the Indian army had overrun, was washed away by floodwaters in 10 minutes, an incident on October 5. According to local sources, the staff of the Sikkim hydropower dam learned in advance that the flash flood was about to break out after being notified in advance by the local so-called "Indo-Tibetan border police" force. Staff immediately took action and fled the scene to save their lives. In just ten minutes, the dam was washed away by floodwaters, as was the 200-meter-long bridge connecting the power station. The entire power plant was submerged in water.
The dam is the largest in Sikkim and was completed in 2017 at a cost of around Rs 25,000 crore. It is not a gravity dam or an earthen dam, but looks like a faceplate rockfill dam. The safety of panel rockfill dams lies in their ability to seal and discharge floodwaters. If the floodgates are not opened, water cannot flow properly and may overflow over the top of the dam, first washing away the rockfill on the back slope of the dam and then causing the entire dam to collapse.
The floods washed away the dam of Sikkim's largest hydroelectric power station, the Teesta River No. 3 hydroelectric power station, destroyed at least 14 bridges and roads, and severely damaged drinking water supply pipes. In addition, 23 Indian Armed Forces officers and soldiers are missing.
From June to September, the Himalayan mountains where Sikkim is located have heavy rainfall, and natural disasters such as landslides and floods are frequent. After the Indian army invaded Sikkim, the number of hydropower stations built and operated in the region was numerous. The circumstances of the losses to other hydropower plants are unclear.
It should be noted that the quality of infrastructure in Sikkim and India, as well as its ability to respond to natural disasters, have been attracting attention. Sikkim was once an independent state, but was annexed by India after World War II, a historical background that also influenced the construction and management of the region.
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