Narrow escape for 30 employees as mishap occurred at hydro project in HP

About 30 persons engaged in a trial run of a hydroelectric station in Mandi district had a narrow escape on late Saturday night when a water flow regulating channel gave way, deluging the power house and damaging machines worth crores of rupees besides entrapping engineers and workers.

Luckily no one was hurt in the mishap which occurred at Uhl Stage (III) project at Chulla village in Jogindernagar subdivision, Mandi Superintendent of Police Gurdev Sharma said.

Several men got entrapped in the power house as the penstock a channel or pipe for conveying water to a hydroelectric station or waterwheel -- gave way, Jogindernagar Sub Divisional Magistrate Amti Mehra said.

Meanwhile, the government has ordered a high level inquiry and appointed a-three-member panel headed by HPSEB chairman to probe the mishap.

The officials present on spot said that the trial run of the much delayed project was started around 11 pm and 8 MW generation was started