The Power Ministry is continuously monitoring the situation arising out of flash floods in the Teesta Basin in Sikkim. Power Secretary Pankaj Agrawal held an emergency meeting yesterday with NHPC where senior officers of the Ministry of Power and Central Electricity Authority were also present. Due to recent flash floods in the Teesta Basin, all the bridges downstream to Teesta-V Hydropower Station up to Tarkhola and Pamphok have been submerged which has severely affected commutation and communication in these areas. All connecting roads to the project sites as well as parts of the residential colony have been severely damaged. The Power Ministry said the power station is under shutdown presently and not generating electricity. NHPC had timely evacuated the manpower on all its projects and ensured that they were shifted to safer places. The Ministry said that, however, one casualty has been reported from the Teesta V power station.
 
Ongoing works of under construction hydro project Teesta VI (500 MW) of NHPC have been disrupted. Two crane operators working at the project site are reported missing and efforts are being made to trace them.

NHPC is taking all possible measures to get the hydropower projects operational as soon as possible. Central Government will make a detailed assessment of damage to hydropower projects after the flood water recedes. NHPC is making all possible efforts with the help of the State government, disaster management authorities, and district administration to maintain the supply of essential commodities like food, medicine, and electricity in the affected regions.