Indian strike: Wapda chief assesses NJHP dam structure damage
The visit was aimed at observing and assessing the damage done to the structures, installations and staff residential camp besides boosting the morale of Wapda officers and officials performing their duties at the Dam site. The project is non-operational since last year due to damage to the tunnel and work was in progress on its rehabilitation.
Acting Member Power Wapda and CEO Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Company Muhammad Arfan Miana, Chief Engineer/PD Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project and Chief Engineer (Operation and Maintenance) were also present on the occasion.
46 injured: 31 innocent civilians martyred in Indian strikes: ISPR
During the detailed visit of the Dam, De-sanders and Intake, the Chairman was apprised that the Indian shelling started at 1:15 a.m. on May 7, and continued for about six hours till 7:15 a.m. Consequently, hydraulic power unit 1 of intake gates was damaged in addition to reinforcement concrete structure at De-sander 1 and 3. Residential camp was also targeted including ambulance and medical facility. The Chairman was also briefed about the efforts made by the WAPDA officials for securing the critical equipment installed at the dam structure and the control room.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman strongly condemned the Indian attack on Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, adding that international laws including protocol additional to the Geneva Convention 12 August 1949 do not allow an attack on water structures even during full-scale war between two states.
He also appreciated the courage and devotion of the WAPDA officers and officials in line of their duties.
Talking to media, Chairman Wapda stated India's strike targeted not just the dam's structure but extended ominously to the civilian neighborhoods nestled around it. It wasn't merely about disrupting power; it was an assault on safety, a gamble with catastrophe. 'The Neelum-Jhelum project holds a vast reservoir—an essential reserve for our energy needs. Damaging it could have triggered devastating floods, widespread power outages, and mass casualties,' he said.
As engineers in hard hats and military personnel assessed the impact, Wapda's technical teams worked around the clock to inspect tunnels, turbines, and walls for signs of structural compromise. Despite the severity of the attack, a sliver of relief came from the fact that no lives were lost. 'It could have been much worse,' the chairman admitted. 'A breach in the reservoir might've drowned entire villages.'
The Indian strike, he asserted, was not just a military act—it was a violation of international humanitarian law. 'Targeting civilians near a power facility violates every ethical and legal norm. This wasn't a misfire. It was deliberate,' he said with conviction.
Although no foreign engineers were on site at the time, and WAPDA's role remains confined to generation—not grid operations—concerns over broader vulnerabilities loomed large.
As he concluded his statement, the chairman praised Pakistan's armed forces for their rapid and resolute response. 'They acted swiftly to secure the area and prevent further escalation. But this aggression cannot go unanswered on the global stage,' he warned. 'Targeting critical civilian infrastructure isn't just an attack on Pakistan. It threatens the fragile balance of our region.'
Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project was completed in 2018 on River Neelum in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Project comprises of three main components - a dam at Nauseri, an underground Waterway System consisting of 52-Km long tunnels and an underground Power House at Chattar Kalas. After its completion, the project contributed 19.562 billion units of green and clean electricity to the National Grid.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Business Recorder
13 terrorists killed in separate operations in Malakand, Kalat: ISPR
Security forces have killed 13 Indian-backed terrorists during separate operations in Kalat and Malakand districts, the military's media wing said on Sunday. Security forces killed four terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan's Kalat. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operation was launched on July 19-20 based on reports about the presence of militants linked to 'Indian proxy network Fitna al Hindustan.' Security forces effectively engaged the hideout, and following an intense exchange of fire, four terrorists were 'sent to hell,' the ISPR said in its statement. The slain terrorists were allegedly involved in multiple acts of terrorism in the area. A cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered during the operation, it said. A follow-up sanitisation operation is underway to eliminate any remaining threat, the military said, adding that Pakistan's security forces remain determined to root out 'Indian-sponsored terrorism' and reaffirm the nation's resolve to bring perpetrators to justice. Nine terrorists killed in Hangu operation Meanwhile, nine Indian sponsored terrorists were killed, while eight others were apprehended in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Malakand region. 'From 16-20 July 2025, a joint intelligence based operation was conducted by the security forces along with police, Levies, CTD and district administration in Malakand district, on reported presence of khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij,' the ISPR said. The security forces surrounded and effectively engaged the khwarij location, and 'after intense multiple fire exchanges nine Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell, while eight khwarij were apprehended'. Two hideouts used by khwarij were also busted and a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered, it said. 'Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to the State's counter terrorism efforts,' the ISPR said. The military's media wing said sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Kharji found in the area, as the security forces and law enforcement agencies are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian sponsored terrorism from the country. The development comes days after a Pakistan Army officer was martyred while three terrorists affiliated with the Indian-backed outfit Fitna al Hindustan were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan's Awaran district. The development comes days after a Pakistan Army officer was martyred while three terrorists affiliated with the Indian-backed outfit Fitna al Hindustan were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan's Awaran district.
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Four terrorists killed in Balochistan's Kalat district: ISPR
Security forces killed four terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Kalat district of Balochistan, the military's media wing said on Sunday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was launched on July 19-20 based on reports about the presence of militants linked to 'Indian proxy network Fitna al Hindustan.' Security forces effectively engaged the hideout, and following an intense exchange of fire, four terrorists were 'sent to hell,' the ISPR said in its statement. The slain terrorists were allegedly involved in multiple acts of terrorism in the area. A cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered during the operation. A follow-up sanitisation operation is underway to eliminate any remaining threat, the military said, adding that Pakistan's security forces remain determined to root out 'Indian-sponsored terrorism' and reaffirm the nation's resolve to bring perpetrators to justice. The development comes days after a Pakistan Army officer was martyred while three terrorists affiliated with the Indian-backed outfit Fitna al Hindustan were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan's Awaran district.
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Express Tribune
India cannot erase memory of July 19: APHC leader
Listen to article Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement, Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has paid glowing tribute to the historic legacy of Accession to Pakistan Day, calling it a reflection of the Kashmiri people's enduring aspirations, identity, and deep-rooted ties with Pakistan. In a statement issued on Friday, Altaf Ahmed Bhat said, "The resolution passed on 19 July 1947 by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference wasn't just a political statement - it was the heartbeat of a nation choosing its natural destiny with Pakistan. That heartbeat still echoes in every Kashmiri home, every wounded soul, and every mother who waits for her martyred son's dream to be fulfilled." He described the day as a moment to remember the collective will of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, who — even before the Partition was fully realized — envisioned their future aligned with Pakistan, bound by faith, culture, geography, and shared struggle. Altaf Ahmed Bhat strongly condemned the Indian government's persistent denial of this historical truth and its efforts to suppress Kashmiris through force, fear, and fabricated narratives. "India may erase articles, jail leaders, or silence voices, but it cannot erase the memory of 19 July, nor the truth that the people of Kashmir have never accepted Indian occupation - not then, not now," he added. He reiterated that Pakistan has always been the moral, emotional, and political backbone of Kashmir's freedom movement. He urged the leadership of Pakistan to further intensify its diplomatic and international outreach for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Altaf Ahmed Bhat also paid heartfelt tribute to the martyrs, prisoners, and families who have borne the brunt of India's brutal occupation for over seven decades. "Our journey is soaked in sacrifice — of innocent lives, shattered homes, and stolen childhoods. Yet, our resolve remains unshaken. The dream of freedom lives on, stitched into the soul of every Kashmiri," he said. In conclusion, Altaf Ahmed Bhat called upon the Kashmiri diaspora, Pakistani brethren, and the global community to stand united in their support for the just cause of Kashmir. "Let the 19th of July not just be a day on the calendar — but a living promise that we shall never surrender, and never forget where we belong."
