Hooters installed in Parbati valley to warn of sudden water releases

In a major step toward safeguarding local communities, NHPC’s Parbati Hydro Electric Project (PHEP-II) and the Malana Hydel Project have installed emergency hooter systems in Baladhi village, Parbati valley. These alert systems are designed to notify residents in advance of water releases from the Barshaini Dam on the Parbati river and the Malana barrage on Malana nullah.

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The safety upgrade follows a tragic incident in which two people lost their lives after a sudden, unannounced water release from the Barshaini Dam. One victim’s body was later recovered from the Parbati river. In response, authorities issued strict directives to the project management to implement immediate and long-term safety protocols.

Earlier, local residents had raised concerns with the District Commissioner about rapidly rising water levels that made a temporary footbridge unsafe, impacting children’s access to school in Jari. The situation worsened after a cloudburst on the night of July 31 last year, which caused the collapse of the Malana Hydel Project-I barrage. The resulting flash floods destroyed the footbridge, homes, temples, and farmlands.

To prevent such disasters, the Malana Hydel Project has installed hooters in Baladhi to provide timely alerts about water releases from both Project-I and II. In parallel, NHPC is rolling out a network of hooters and voice messaging systems at 18 critical locations between Barshaini and Jari. These systems will activate ahead of any water discharge, offering early warnings to riverside communities.

During a field inspection, Kullu SDM Nishant Kumar evaluated the new safety measures and visited the Malana project dam. His team also engaged with villagers to gather feedback and ensure their concerns are addressed. Kumar assured residents that robust safety standards would be enforced to protect lives and property.

Kullu DC Torul S Raveesh confirmed that project authorities have been ordered to follow strict safety protocols for all water release operations, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to negligence.