Major Flooding at Nepal’s Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Plant Leaves Workers Stranded, Bridge Destroyed

Rasuwagadhi, Nepal – July 6, 2025

Severe flooding has caused significant damage to the Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant in northern Nepal, near the Chinese border, according to official reports. Authorities confirmed that the rising waters of the Bhotekoshi River swept away a key bridge and left several employees stranded at the facility.

The flooding, triggered by relentless monsoon rains, hit the remote region late Sunday, leading to what local officials described as a “major infrastructure disaster.” Photos and video circulating online show heavy water flow breaching barriers, debris-strewn roads, and damaged buildings at the site.

“We’ve confirmed major damage to the Rasuwagadhi hydropower station and surrounding infrastructure,” a senior official from Nepal’s Department of Energy said. “Communication with the area is extremely difficult, but efforts are underway to evacuate the stranded workers and assess the full scope of the damage.”

The plant, which is crucial to Nepal’s energy grid, is located in the Rasuwa District, a rugged mountainous region frequently exposed to landslides and river flooding. The destroyed bridge had served as the only vehicle-access point to the plant and surrounding communities.

The Rasuwagadhi project, a joint venture with China, is one of several hydropower initiatives aimed at expanding Nepal’s renewable energy capacity. Local and national emergency response teams have been dispatched to the area.

No fatalities have been reported so far, but rescue operations are ongoing. Officials have urged residents in nearby villages to remain on high alert and prepare for further weather-related disruptions as heavy rain is expected to continue.