Answer :

Introduction :

Dams plays a vital role in our country with each and every factors are directly or indirectly related to life and economy of our country.

Factors which include are irrigation, water storage, hydroelectric Power station which generate enormous electricity for the betterment of people life and country economy.

At a same time the failure of Dam could even lead to a very catastrophic event which harms to each and every vital sectors ( irrigation , water storage , electricity generation) making in a very large scale destruction especially when it comes to downstream side leading to destruction of the infrastructure located nearby , relocation, accidental death of the people due to such failure which are living for there daily livelihood.

Causes :  Failure of Dams are aligned to various criteria as followed:

1. Improper Infrastructure: Poor quality of Contruction material with improper planned design makes dams weak integrity.
2. over aging of Dams: operation of Dams which already completed there infrastructure aging makes the increase in vulnerability in dam failure.
3. Natural calamities: Excessive Rainfall which make the Dams overflow which leads to overtopping or foundation failure.
4. Climate changes: As the natural calamities occurred the major impacts comes from the climate change which intensifies the failure of Dam.
5. Ecological: The improper location for the construction selection of Dam which are ecological sensitive make the creating the nearby area prone to damage.
6. Mismanagement by the local authorities: Improper inspection, Delay in making the repair of Dam by Local Government authorities, mismanagement during flood condition like monitoring the rain with the help of India Meteorological Department, neglection of Dams maintenance

Examples of large Dams Failure in India:

Dam failure is a very large devasting which cannot be categories as a large or small as it impacts nation economy and devastating people’s life.

1. Teesta III Hydroelectric Dam Destruction, Sikkim: 4th October 2023.

Heavy rains caused the glacial South Lhonak lake in Sikkim breach its banks, causing a glacial lake outburst flood

It was the deadliest flood in the area after the 1968 Sikkim floods when around 1000 people were killed.

2. Tungabhadra Dam Crest Gate Failure, Karnataka–Andhra Pradesh: 10 August 2024.

Tungabhadra Dam failed, releasing enormous volumes of water downstream unexpectedly prompting flood warnings in districts across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The primary reason for the failure is inadequate bearing capacity of the foundation material (sand), failure of upstream secant piles.