GULMI, August 13: Incessant rain for the last three days has washed away the biggest hydro power project in the district, leaving several wards of Musikot and Badikot villages without power. The dam of Daramkhola hydro project located at Musikot-9 collapsed in the flood. This is the biggest mini hydro project in the country.

According to the locals, around 1000 households have been directly affected by this. The project has the capacity of 85 kw and was providing power to several wards of Musikot and Badikot. “Small factories and industries, communication facilities such as radio are working no more. Everything has been disturbed,” said Lok Prasad Chhantel, a local of Musikot - 9.

Chhantel informed Republica that Radio Pushpanjali and Radio Sarathi stationed at Bami of Musikot Municipality and Kharwang of Badighat Municipality have gone off air. 

According to Dharmendra Kumar Malla, president of the hydro power committee, the canal of the hydro project was damaged by the devastating landslides. “It fell off from around 200 meter above. The canal was fully destroyed and washed away,” he said. He added that it might take one week at least to repair things. 

Landslides have affected the road services as well. Debris are everywhere on major as well as minor roads disrupting vehicular movements. Passengers have been standard at several junctions.  

 
• minihydro
 
• project
 
• canal
 
• washed
 
• away