Rising Floods Threaten Nepal’s Hydropower Ambitions After Deadly Rasuwa Disaster

In August 2026 a rock-ice avalanche on Langtang Lirung triggered a flood that slammed into the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower tunnel, trapping Bal Bahadur Majhi and three colleagues for days before the Nepali Army rescued them. The event was the third flood to hit the plant in 15 months, adding to a July 2025 glacier-lake outburst and a July 2026 sediment flood, and contributed to more than 6,700 missing persons and Rs 150 billion in damages across 27 hydropower projects.

Nepal still aims to generate 30,000 MW by 2035, with private firms now responsible for over 80 % of capacity, but critics say licensing has outpaced safety, environmental assessments and community consent. Officials have set up a scientific committee to investigate the causes and possible policy changes, while experts call for stronger regulation, independent oversight, and climate-resilient design. The disaster raises questions about who truly benefits from the “white gold” of hydropower and whether the country can balance growth with the Himalayan environment’s increasing volatility.