Flash Flood Damages Four 412 MW Hydropower Projects in Budhigandaki Corridor

Kathmandu: A sudden flash flood in the Budhigandaki River near Chumanubri Rural Municipality of Gorkha on Sunday morning, October 11, has damaged four hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 412.09 MW.

According to details released by the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), the flood caused significant damage to hydropower projects under construction, particularly their camps, access infrastructure, construction equipment and materials. The flood also affected settlements along the riverbanks.

The 341 MW Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, being developed by Times Energy Pvt. Ltd., suffered major damage after the project’s main camp area and some construction equipment were swept away by the flood.

Similarly, the camp area of the 24.5 MW Dobhan Khola Hydropower Project, promoted by Dobhan Khola Hydropower Limited, was damaged. A bailey bridge associated with the project was also washed away.

The 30.59 MW Yaru Khola Hydropower Project, promoted by Yaru Hydropower Pvt. Ltd., also sustained damage. Its bailey bridge was affected, while construction materials and equipment were swept away by the flood.

Likewise, the 16 MW Machha Khola Hydropower Project, being developed by Water Energy Development Pvt. Ltd., suffered damage to its access road and the bridge leading to the project site.

The latest incident has once again highlighted the growing vulnerability of hydropower infrastructure to sudden floods and extreme weather events, particularly in mountainous areas where several projects are being constructed along river corridors.