Hydel plant in Nepal feeding power to India among several units hit by flash floods

A hydropower plant in Nepal, responsible for supplying electricity to India, was among several power plants affected by flash floods on Wednesday. The extent of the damage to numerous power plants that serve the majority of Nepal's electricity needs is currently being assessed. A senior Indian official reported to The Indian Express that Nepal reduced its power supply to India from approximately 800 megawatts (MW) to at least 400 MW following the floods.

The Devighat hydropower plant, which generates 14 megawatts (MW) and provides power to India, was among the plants impacted by the floods. India imports electricity from multiple hydroelectric power plants in Nepal; at the peak on August 26, when the flash flood struck, India imported 963.4 MW from Nepal. The Devighat hydropower plant is one of fourteen hydroelectric plants and one solar plant affected by the floods, according to Nepal's Energy Ministry.

The floods, triggered by a glacier collapse in the Himalayan region between Nepal and Tibet, affected nearly 359 MW of capacity, predominantly hydro power. The death toll from the devastating flash floods rose to 359 on Thursday.