Nepal’s hydropower backbone keeps getting swept away, and the next flood is already forming in the warming Himalayas while billions in energy infrastructure sit exposed in the same river corridors built to power the country’s future

When catastrophic flash floods buried hydropower sites along the Nepal-China border, rescue workers began drilling into mud-choked tunnels searching for hundreds of missing laborers. Over 950 people have died across Nepal and China combined, while more than 4,400 remain unaccounted for.

At least 900 workers across a dozen damaged energy projects were missing. Roughly 500 were believed to be trapped inside massive water-diversion tunnels—caverns so large that geoscientists noted trucks could easily drive through them. Four bodies were recovered early on, while rescuers listened desperately along the rock walls for any remaining signs of life.

A disaster inside the disaster: Workers trapped in the tunnels

The subterranean channels quickly turned a natural emergency into a horrific secondary crisis. When floodwaters surged last Wednesday, hundreds of workers fled into the diversion tunnels seeking shelter. Instead, rushing torrents and thick mud sealed the entrances behind them, trapping roughly 500 laborers in total darkness.

Steiner noted that because floodwaters were detected near the border, better early-warning networks downstream could have saved lives.

Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal, reported that several workers made urgent calls before radio communications died. At the Trishuli-3 project, military crews descended nearly 50 feet (15 meters) into flooded shafts. At the Upper Trishuli-1 project alone, at least 576 people were unaccounted for, with 300 thought to be sealed inside. Austrian geoscientist Jakob Steiner emphasized that while oxygen had been pumped into some sections, time was running out for trapped crews who desperately needed food and clean water.

Ten percent of Nepal’s power capacity, gone overnight

Beyond the human toll, the deluge wiped out approximately 10% of Nepal’s total electricity generating capacity in a single day—taking nearly 700 megawatts offline. For a developing nation relying on hydroelectricity for its domestic grid and regional exports, the sudden loss was catastrophic.

Most Nepali installations utilize run-of-river designs, positioning turbines directly inside steep river corridors. This leaves virtually zero physical buffer when mountain channels overflow. In Dhading, emergency workers digging out a mud-choked station that powers over 20,000 residents illustrated this extreme concentration of risk: one torrent, one plant, and tens of thousands plunged into darkness.

This is not the first time—and the pattern is getting worse

This disaster follows a dangerous sequence. In October 2024, extreme rainfall triggered landslides that damaged over 30 facilities, knocking out 1,100 megawatts—nearly a third of Nepal’s seasonal capacity. That storm damaged 11 operational plants totaling 626 megawatts and devastated 15 facilities still under construction.

Scientists at the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development confirm this isn’t bad luck. Himalayan glaciers are melting at accelerated speeds, while permafrost degradation, unstable hillsides, and unpredictable rain patterns continually destabilize the very river valleys housing energy infrastructure.

A warming Himalayas: Why the risk keeps compounding

The Himalayan region is warming far faster than the global average. Rising temperatures destabilize glacial ice and increase the threat of glacial lake outburst floods. Steiner noted that because floodwaters were detected near the border, better early-warning networks downstream could have saved lives. Furthermore, Himanshu Thakkar of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People warns that damaged dams act as “force multipliers,” sending wreckage downstream to compound destruction.

Rebuilding smarter—or not rebuilding at all

Disaster experts are demanding a fundamental shift. Ramraj Narasimhan of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure argues that Nepal must build system redundancy—such as alternate power routes, financial insurance, and decentralized solar—rather than treating every facility as indestructible.

The financial reality is severe: CDRI estimates that $124 billion in Nepali infrastructure sits exposed to climate disasters, causing average annual losses of $760 million USD—far exceeding national emergency funds.

Nepal stands at a critical juncture. The glaciers keep melting, the steep slopes remain unstable, and the river valleys are reclaiming their natural territory. The full reality is clear: Nepal’s hydropower backbone keeps getting swept away, and the next flood is already forming in the warming Himalayas while billions in energy infrastructure sit exposed in the same river corridors built to power the country’s future.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.