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الوسم: hydroelectric

  • Nine Dead, 15 Trapped in India’s Tunnel Collapse

    Nine Dead, 15 Trapped in India’s Tunnel Collapse

    At least nine people have lost their lives, with 15 others still trapped after a tunnel collapsed during construction work at a hydroelectric project in India’s remote northeast, officials reported Tuesday.

    The incident happened Monday in Sikkim, a Himalayan state, where workers were building a tunnel for a government-operated hydropower facility along the Teesta River.

    “We estimate that around 25 to 27 individuals were trapped,” said Rajiv Roka, head of the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, to AFP. “Nine bodies have already been recovered.”

    The collapse was probably caused by an explosion, though technicians have not yet determined the exact cause. Recent heavy monsoon rains in the area may have contributed to the incident.

    Roka mentioned, “We’re unsure of what triggered the blast since it occurred deep within the tunnel,” adding, “Most likely, it was due to natural factors.”

    Rescue efforts are hampered by the presence of dangerous methane gas leaking from underground rock formations, making it necessary for rescue teams to wear oxygen supplies to enter the site.

    “Intensive rescue operations are ongoing, but a lot of gas is present there,” Roka explained. A specialized team with mining accident experience has been brought in to assist the rescue teams.

    While accidents at large infrastructure sites are quite common across India, environmentalists argue that excessive development has increased the frequency of such disasters, especially in the fragile Himalayan environment.

    In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days following a tunnel collapse in northern Uttarakhand.

  • Tajikistan to Impose Jail Time for Illegal Power Consumption

    Tajikistan to Impose Jail Time for Illegal Power Consumption

    Tajikistan’s New Law Imposes Heavy Penalties for Electricity Theft

    DUSHANBE: In a significant move amid ongoing energy hardships, Tajikistan has enacted new legislation that imposes prison sentences of up to 10 years for the illegal use of electricity. This decision comes as the nation faces a prolonged energy crisis, exacerbated by chronic water shortages affecting its infrastructure.

    Due to outdated energy systems and increasing demand, electricity consumption in Tajikistan is restricted for approximately six months each year.

    On Saturday, the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources announced that individuals found attempting to tamper with or bypass electricity meters will be charged with criminal offenses. The announcement was notably covered by independent news outlets only on Monday, reflecting the government’s tight control over media coverage.

    The newly established regulations indicate that anyone disconnected from or trying to manipulate an electricity meter could face severe consequences, including hefty prison sentences. President Emomali Rakhmon, who has been in power since 1992, leads the country that was once part of the Soviet Union.

    Earlier this month, Justice Minister Rustam Shoemurod expressed concern over individuals who alter meter readings to evade payments, stating that such actions "seriously undermine the nation’s economic interests."

    Tajikistan relies heavily on hydroelectric power, which accounts for roughly 95% of its electricity production. However, a persistent lack of water has resulted in regular power outages nationwide.

    In March, President Rakhmon voiced his worries over the inefficient use of electricity in a country where the average salary is less than $240 per month. He has been advocating for the expansive Rogun hydroelectric power plant as a possible remedy to the energy crisis. Originally proposed in the 1970s during the Soviet era, the project has faced numerous delays due to the dissolution of the USSR and the civil war in Tajikistan during the 1990s. Despite reviving the plan in the 2000s, costs have soared to over $6 billion.