3 weeks ago
Srisailam Hydroelectric Unit 4 Back on Grid After Six Years
There is a big power station in India called Srisailam that makes electricity using the force of water.
Inside the station are six machines called units, and the one that broke can make 150 megawatts of electricity.
In August 2020, one of these machines, called Unit 4, caught fire and was very badly damaged.
Sadly, nine engineers lost their lives in the fire, and the machine could not make electricity anymore.
Two companies were hired to fix the machine, and they worked on it over many years.
The repairs were hard — the machine started working a couple of times but then stopped again because of new problems.
Engineers from India and Japan kept finding and fixing the problems, like loose parts inside the machine.
Finally, in August 2026, the machine was connected back to the electricity grid, so it can make power again.
Now all six machines are working, which means the station can help supply electricity to people, especially when they need it most.
Unit 4 of the 900 MW Srisailam Left Bank Hydro Electric Station in Nagarkurnool district was synchronized to the state grid on Tuesday, August 11 — one report cites 3:21 am, another says Tuesday evening.
The 150 MW unit was gutted in a major fire on August 20, 2020, that killed nine engineers; Genco estimated the loss at Rs 180 crore.
Repair work was split between Shree Abirami Engineering Works (February 2022) and Noida-based Voith Hydro Pvt Ltd (August 2021).
After recommissioning in July 2023 and October 2025, the unit tripped due to a stator earth fault and then an air-gap alert linked to loosened rotor poles.
With all six units functional, TS-Genco expects improved peaking power support and better utilization of water releases from the Srisailam reservoir.
- Who
- TS-Genco (the Telangana power utility), repair firms Shree Abirami Engineering Works and Voith Hydro Pvt Ltd, Japan-based HM Hydro, and the chief electrical inspector.
- What
- Unit 4 of the 900 MW Srisailam Left Bank Hydro Electric Station was synchronized to the state grid after six years of fire damage and repeated repairs.
- Where
- Srisailam Left Bank Hydro Electric Station at Eegalappenta, Nagarkurnool district, Telangana.
- When
- Tuesday, August 11 — one report says 3:21 am, another says the evening.
- Why
- To bring the fire-damaged 150 MW unit back into service and strengthen peaking power support and use of water releases from the Srisailam reservoir.
Key facts
- Station
- Srisailam Left Bank Hydro Electric Station (SLBHES)
- Total capacity
- 900 MW (6 x 150 MW)
- Restored unit
- Unit 4, 150 MW
- Location
- Eegalappenta, Nagarkurnool district, Telangana
- Fire incident
- August 20, 2020
- Casualties and loss
- Nine engineers killed; about Rs 180 crore estimated loss
- Repair firms
- Shree Abirami Engineering Works, Voith Hydro Pvt Ltd, HM Hydro (Japan)
- Grid synchronization
- August 11, 2026 (3:21 am per one report)
Quotes
Top officials of the TS Genco
Officials from Telangana State Genco power utility
“After obtaining permission for charging the Generator of Unit-4 from the government, the Genco carried out all necessary pre-commissioning tests and successfully synchronised it to grid on Tuesday evening.”
thehansindia.com
“Fine-tuning works such as dynamic balancing, turbine auto-tuning etc. have also been taken up for ensuring smooth running of the Unit 4”
thehansindia.com










