On 8 July 1993, a landslide of about one million cubic metres of rock
blocked the river Satluj near Sanjay Vidyut Pariyojana - Bhaba project
and caused flooding into the Bhaba Power House (120 MW) resulting in
suspension of power generation. The concerned authorities desired an
early removal of the blockade by an underwater blasting operation into
the over topping water to reduce the water level at the blockade and
resume power generation in the power house. In the absence of
underwater drilling, it was essential for the blasting technique to be used
where no cavity to confine the explosive was required. For this reason
mud capping and plaster shooting with directional throw were used and
additional specially fabricated mild steel pipe charges were used under
high current for an underwater trenching operation. By employing these techniques the river blockade was removed up to
the required depth and on 8 September 1993 the Power House resumed
the power generation.