KATHMANDU: The devastating flood that swept down from Tibet’s Lhende Khola (Bhotekoshi) on Monday night has caused significant damage to eight hydropower projects located in Nepal’s Trishuli sub-basin under the Narayani river system.
Of the eight affected projects, five were operational while three were still under construction. The operational plants—Rasuwagadhi (111 MW), Chilime (22 MW), Trishuli 3A (60 MW), Trishuli (25.25 MW), and Devighat (14 MW)—have all suffered varying degrees of damage.
Meanwhile, the under-construction projects—Upper Trishuli 3B (37 MW), Upper Trishuli 1 (216 MW), and Super Trishuli (100 MW)—have also been impacted by the flood.
Speaking at a press conference marking his first 100 days as Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Hitendra Dev Shakya confirmed that around 240 megawatts of electricity generation had come to a halt due to the flooding. He said an NEA team had reached the affected sites Tuesday morning, and he himself would conduct an inspection to assess further action if needed.
Shakya expressed hope that if river erosion is controlled in time, further structural damage could be avoided.
Rasuwagadhi and Trishuli 3A most affected
Among the damaged sites, the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, located just 200 meters from the Chinese border, has been hit the hardest. The flood swept away its gate and destroyed the headworks, forcing the plant to shut down completely.
“Trishuli 3A’s dam lost one of its gates, though the rest of its physical structure remains largely intact,” Shakya added. The timeline for resuming operations will only be clear after on-site evaluations.
Chilime project under cleanup
Electricity production at the 22 MW Chilime Hydropower Center has also stopped due to damage to its headworks. However, Shakya noted that cleanup efforts have already begun and electricity generation could resume within a couple of days if all goes well.
“It’s only minor damage; cleaning is underway,” he said. “We expect the plant to be back online in a day or two.”
Upper Trishuli 3B in critical condition
The Upper Trishuli 3B project, which was 50% complete, has entered a “critical” phase due to the flood, according to Shakya. He explained that a temporary tower installed at the site was washed away after the river eroded its foundation.
“The tower wasn’t in use yet but was swept away,” he said, highlighting the challenges now facing the project’s progress.
The disaster adds pressure on Nepal’s energy infrastructure, even as the majority of power plants remain operational nationwide. However, NEA officials acknowledge that damage recovery and rehabilitation of affected sites will require significant effort and investment.
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