Flooding in the Lehende River (Bhotekoshi), which enters Nepal from Tibet, China, has damaged more than 10 hydropower projects—both under construction and operational—in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.

According to the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), the most severely affected is the 111-megawatt Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project. The flood swept away its dam, gate structures, access roads, and temporary cofferdam, said project chief Satyaram Jyakhwa.

He said the flash flood had severely damaged the project infrastructure, adding that two bridges are also at high risk. “The monsoon has just begun, and our remaining bridges are extremely vulnerable. If another flood sweeps them away, the damage will be even worse,” he said.

Jyakhwa noted that the total financial loss has yet to be determined, as a proper assessment will require expert evaluation. “We need more time to come up with exact figures,” he said. “Experts must be deployed for a detailed study.”

While a full damage estimate is not yet available, Jwakhwa confirmed that the flood destroyed the dam, gate, campsite, and nine vehicles. “The floodwater has entered the tunnel. We will know the extent of the damage only after we clear the debris,” he said, adding that parts of the infrastructure are submerged up to two or three stories deep.

250 MW shut down

The flood, laden with debris and sediment, caused severe damage to hydropower projects in Rasuwa, leading to a shutdown of 250 megawatts of electricity generation and halting the construction of projects with a combined capacity of 350 megawatts, said Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) spokesperson Rajan Dhakal.

According to Dhakal, power generation has been halted at the 111-MW Rasuwagadhi, 60-MW Trishuli–3A, 25-MW Trishuli Hydropower Center, 22-MW Chilime, 14-MW Upper Mailung, 14-MW Devighat, and 5-MW Mailung Khola projects.

Power generation at Mailung, Upper Mailung, Devighat, and Trishuli hydropower centers was halted due to damage at the Trishuli–3B hub substation, which channels electricity from these projects.

Meanwhile, the 14.8-MW Upper Sanjen, 42.5-MW Sanjen, and 78-MW Sanjen Khola projects remain operational, Dhakal said. The Chilime project is preparing to resume operations after flooding reached its tailrace, temporarily halting production.

“Damage assessments are currently underway,” Dhakal added. “We haven’t been able to reach Rasuwagadhi yet, so ongoing work is being managed by personnel already stationed there. Repair works will be carried out once we assess the full extent of the damage.”

According to IPPAN, all the affected projects—except for Devighat, Trishuli, and Trishuli–3A—have private sector involvement. The under-construction projects, all backed by private investment, include the 216-MW Upper Trishuli–1, 100-MW Super Trishuli, and 37-MW Trishuli–3B.

Construction work at these sites has been suspended following the damage, IPPAN’s data shows.

The flood also damaged the Trishuli–3B hub substation and transmission lines used for evacuating power along the Trishuli corridor. Losses amounting to tens of millions of rupees daily are expected due to the disruption.

Dozens of cargo containers and vehicles stationed at the dry port in Timure, near the Nepal–China border, were swept away by the flood. The under-construction dry port has been completely damaged.

Nepal–China road link severed

The flood also swept away the Miteri Bridge on the Nepal–China border, cutting off direct road connectivity between the two countries. This has put Nepali traders in a difficult position, said IPPAN President Ganesh Karki.

He noted that over Rs 100 billion worth of trade occurs annually through this border point and warned that the disaster will severely affect government revenue. “The government must act quickly to reopen the route,” he urged.

The flood swept away 64 vehicles from the customs yard, including 23 container trucks, six cargo trucks, and 35 electric vehicles. Another 10–15 containers in the yard were partially submerged. Preliminary estimates suggest damage worth hundreds of millions of rupees, including losses to mobile phones, electronics, clothing, and fruits.

Seven people have been confirmed dead, and 19 others are missing following the disaster.

By Subhadra Dhital