KATHMANDU, Aug 27: A massive flood in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers on Wednesday inflicted severe damage on hydropower and solar projects with a combined capacity of 901.1 MW, according to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI).
The ministry reported that 12 operational projects with a total capacity of 431.1 MW were hit, including 406.1 MW of hydropower stations and a 25 MW solar plant. Among the affected facilities are Rasuwagadhi, Chilime, Upper Trishuli 3A, Trishuli, Devighat, Sanjen Khola, Sanjen, Mailung Khola, Salasungi (Sanjen), and Langtang Khola. A 220 kV substation in Nuwakot also sustained damage.
Rajan Dhakal, spokesperson for the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), confirmed that the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project was among the worst affected. The NEA-built project, devastated by floods last year, had only recently resumed full-fledged operation. The 25 MW solar project in Nuwakot has also gone offline, while the district’s 220 kV substation was damaged.
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In addition, 15 projects under construction — including Upper Trishuli-1, Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi, Upper Mailung, Upper Trishuli 3B, and Middle Trishuli Ganga — were severely impacted. Together, these projects represent 470 MW of future generation capacity.
Power supply has been completely halted in Rasuwa district, while Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha are experiencing partial disruptions. Dhakal said NEA has deployed technical teams to restore electricity as quickly as possible.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has assessed that the flood in Rasuwa was triggered by the sudden release of a river in Tibet that had been blocked by an avalanche.
The disaster comes exactly one year after another catastrophic flood in the same region. On July 8, 2025, flooding from Tibet’s Lende River merged with the Bhotekoshi, killing nine people and leaving 19 missing. That event destroyed the Friendship Bridge linking Nepal and China, damaged the Rasuwagadhi dry port and hydropower facilities, and swept away sections of the Syabrubesi–Rasuwagadhi road.
Affected operating electricity projects:
S. No. | Projects | Capacity (MW) | Districts |
1 | Rasuwagadhi | 111 | Rasuwa |
2 | Salasungi Sanjen | 78 | Rasuwa |
3 | Upper Sanjen | 14.8 | Rasuwa |
4 | Sanjen | 42.5 | Rasuwa |
5 | Mailung Khola | 5 | Rasuwa |
6 | Langtang | 20 | Rasuwa |
7 | Chilime | 22 | Rasuwa |
8 | Upper Mailung | 14.8 | |
9 | Upper Trishuli 3A | 60 | Nuwakot |
10 | Trishuli | 24 | Nuwakot |
11 | Devighat | 14 | Nuwakot |
12 | Solar | 25 | Nuwakot |
Total | 431.1 |
