Flooding in Nepal cripples hydropower, with hundreds missing and power output down 10%

Severe floods in Nepal have damaged multiple hydropower projects, taking about 700 megawatts offline. Up to 900 workers are unaccounted for, with many trapped in tunnels. Experts urge rebuilding with resilience rather than simply replacing damaged infrastructure.

The floods knocked out roughly 700 megawatts—about 10% of Nepal's power capacity—with damage concentrated in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts. Workers sheltering in access tunnels, large enough for trucks, remain trapped awaiting rescue. The Independent Power Producers' Association reports up to 900 unaccounted for across a dozen projects.

Beyond immediate losses, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure estimates $124 billion in exposed infrastructure, with average annual disaster losses near $760 million—far exceeding national disaster funds. Climate research from ICIMOD highlights accelerating glacier melt, permafrost degradation, and erratic rainfall, raising flood and landslide risks across the Hindu Kush Himalaya.