Nepal floods expose risks to hydropower in a warming Himalayas

Nepal's devastating floods have exposed the risks to hydropower infrastructure in a warming Himalayas, leaving up to 900 workers missing and hundreds still trapped in the tunnels. As workers cleared debris from a flood-ravaged power station in central Nepal, hoping to revive a key node supplying electricity to over 20,000 people, they faced the grim reality that the plant may not simply be rebuilt in the same location, beside the river that destroyed it.

The loss of hydropower infrastructure has taken an estimated 700 megawatts offline – about 10% of Nepal's power capacity. In Nepal and China combined, over 900 people have died and 4,700 are missing. Authorities now face the daunting task of quickly restoring power, roads, bridges, schools, and health facilities without repeating the same vulnerabilities.

Geoscientist Jakob Steiner, currently based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, emphasizes that rebuilding must prioritize resilience rather than mere replacement. Many of the affected hydropower projects – operating or under construction – were either fully or partially destroyed in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading, among the worst-hit districts. Officials report that tunnels, originally built for access to hydropower infrastructure and water diversion, have become traps for hundreds of stranded workers awaiting rescue.