Rasuwa flood forces shutdown of 200 MW power generation, NEA confirms major dam and infrastructure damage

KATHMANDU: The devastating flood that hit the Rasuwa district has caused the shutdown of approximately 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation from multiple hydropower projects under the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), officials confirmed on Tuesday.

According to NEA Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya, the catastrophic flash flood that swept through the Bhotekoshi River and Trishuli Corridor has inflicted serious damage on critical hydropower infrastructure, forcing the halt of electricity generation in several major projects.

The 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project—a key facility under the NEA—has suffered significant structural damage. One of the dam’s floodgates was washed away by the flood, and the bridge connected to the project has cracked, suspending all movement in and out of the site.

“The tailrace area has accumulated large amounts of debris, although it did not suffer structural damage. The powerhouse, fortunately, remains intact,” said Shakya.

Meanwhile, the 60 MW Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project has been directly impacted as floodwaters entered the powerhouse building. Though a detailed damage assessment is still pending, preliminary reports suggest that operations have been completely halted. Additionally, the Trishuli 3B substation is reported to be buried in mud brought by the flood, further complicating the situation.

In the Chilime Hydropower Plant, although floodwaters reached the powerhouse, there has been no significant damage so far. However, one of the bypass transmission towers located along the banks of the Trishuli River has been swept away, adding to the disruption of electricity supply in the region.

Due to the flood-induced shutdown of these projects, electricity generation totaling around 200 megawatts across the Trishuli Corridor has been suspended. This marks one of the most significant hydropower disruptions in recent years and could potentially impact national power supply if alternative sources are not mobilized promptly.

Disaster Highlights NEA’s Infrastructure Vulnerability

The incident has exposed the vulnerability of Nepal’s key energy infrastructure to natural disasters like flash floods, which are becoming more frequent due to climate-induced weather anomalies. The flood, triggered by a glacial lake outburst from the Tibetan side, has not only damaged infrastructure but also disrupted crucial operations across Rasuwa’s power-producing region.

Officials from NEA, local administration, and disaster management agencies are currently on-site to assess the full extent of the damage and begin recovery operations. The NEA is also coordinating with security agencies to mobilize emergency response teams.

Continued Rainfall May Worsen Situation

With meteorologists predicting continuous rainfall over the next few days, the risk of further flooding and landslides remains high, especially in hydropower corridors situated along riverbanks. Authorities have urged all project operators and local residents to stay alert and take precautionary measures.

The halt in production of 200 MW—roughly 10% of Nepal’s average daily electricity generation—may also affect industrial load-shedding schedules and power trading with neighboring India, depending on how quickly the damage is repaired.