KATHMANDU: The under-construction Langtang Khola Hydropower Project in Rasuwa, which was preparing to begin electricity generation and connect to the national grid within a week, has been severely damaged by the massive Bhote Koshi flood.
The project’s powerhouse has been completely swept away, while around 60 employees and workers who were working inside a tunnel remain out of contact.
The flood, which came from the Tibet side of China into the Bhote Koshi River early Wednesday, caused extensive destruction at the project site.
According to Bijay Mohan Bhattarai, managing director of Multi Energy Pvt. Ltd., the workers were inside the tunnel carrying out concrete lining work when the flood struck.
Around 25 people, including engineers, overseers, security guards and kitchen staff employed by Multi Energy, were working at the site, along with around 35 workers employed by subcontractors. Bhattarai said none of them had been in contact since the morning.
“We were preparing to start generating electricity next week. I had visited the site just three days ago,” Bhattarai said. “We can rebuild the project, but I am deeply worried because we have no information about our capable engineers and workers.”
He said the flood destroyed the powerhouse structure completely and reached around 125 metres above the natural river level.
Bhattarai, who is also secretary of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), described the incident as a “catastrophic flood” rather than an ordinary flooding event.
He said the immediate priority should be locating the missing workers rather than assessing the financial damage to the project.
“We can rebuild the project, but where will we find the people?” he said, stressing that the possible loss of human lives was the greatest concern.
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