Bhote Koshi-Trishuli Floods: Unprecedented Damage to Hydropower Sector, Up to 900 MW Capacity Impacted
On September 26, massive flooding caused by landslides, boulders, and debris surged through the Bhote Koshi and downstream Trishuli rivers, inflicting severe damage to both human lives and the economy. Over a dozen hydropower projects located within the Trishuli corridor, many developed or under construction in a cascading manner, have been affected with some completely destroyed. Hundreds of skilled technicians and workers operating in the region remain missing. Former Minister and ex-Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Kulman Ghising, who has been involved in hydropower development in this area from the beginning, described the floods as the greatest damage ever recorded in Nepal’s hydropower history. Ghising stated that rebuilding these projects will likely take several years.
During an on-site inspection on October 1, Ghising visited various hydropower facilities to assess the damage. “Facilities such as Rasuwa Gadhi, Chilime, Langtang Khola, and Trishuli 3 have seen both powerhouses and headworks completely destroyed. Projects with approximately 250 MW capacity have been fully wiped out. Additionally, transmission lines and substations of projects with around 230-235 MW capacity were destroyed, resulting in shutdowns,” he reported. “In total, about 450 MW worth of capacity is currently offline, with 250 MW completely lost and unlikely to operate for several years.”
Several under-construction projects have also sustained damage. “Around 500 MW of capacity in under-construction projects have been impacted. Operational projects totaling 430 MW are currently inactive, and 250 MW of those are fully destroyed. Altogether, approximately 900 MW of hydropower capacity in the Trishuli corridor has been affected,” Ghising explained. “Access routes have been washed away, turning the entire region into barren land. Damage extends from Timure and Rasuwa Gadhi through Betrawati, Vidur, and further downstream to Devighat.”
