Nepal Floods Wipe Out 430MW of Hydropower Capacity

Flash floods in Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district have resulted in at least eight confirmed deaths and significant damage to critical infrastructure, according to local authorities on Wednesday. The disaster, which originated in the mountainous region near the Tibetan border, has severed road access and disrupted power generation across the affected area.

The flooding, triggered by intense monsoon activity, has severely impacted the Nepal Electricity Authority, with approximately 430 megawatts of production capacity currently offline due to damage at hydropower and solar facilities. The destruction of transmission and distribution infrastructure has led to widespread power outages, while the closure of major highways has hampered emergency response efforts and aerial rescue operations.

The crisis extends across the border into China, where mudslides in the Shigatse region have caused casualties and disrupted communications at the Gyirong land crossing. The Bhote Koshi River, which serves as a primary conduit for the flooding, remains a high-risk zone as authorities continue to evacuate residents to higher ground.

The Nepal Army and disaster management teams have initiated recovery operations, though the full extent of the property loss remains under assessment as monsoon conditions persist.