The Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has announced additional relief and recovery measures following the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood on Bhadra 10, 2083 BS, which severely damaged electricity infrastructure across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. According to a press release issued on Ashoj 1, 2083 BS, summarizing activities during the previous 15 days, the ministry directed that electricity meter charges be waived for flood-affected customers in the three districts for the month of Bhadra 2083. Customers whose electricity meters were damaged or lost in the disaster will also receive replacement meters free of charge. Meanwhile, electricity supply has been restored across all of Dhading and Nuwakot districts, while services have resumed in most areas of Rasuwa, including Ward No. 1 of Uttargaya Rural Municipality and Wards 1, 2 and 3 of Gosaikunda Rural Municipality. Remaining settlements are being supplied through alternative energy systems and domestic solar installations.
The ministry confirmed that search and rescue operations were continuing at several flood-affected hydropower projects, including Upper Trishuli-3A, Upper Trishuli-3B, Chilime, Rasuwagadhi, Langtang, Upper Trishuli-1 and Mailung Khola. Rescue operations involved the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, local security agencies, project technical teams and specialists from neighboring countries. To support affected families, the ministry announced that families of Nepal Electricity Authority employees who remain missing or have died due to the disaster will receive immediate cash relief of Rs 5 lakh per family. Additionally, dependents of missing and deceased employees will receive 50 percent of the employees’ basic monthly salaries for up to six months, pending further decisions. Authorities are also coordinating with families to provide information about identified casualties, missing persons and ongoing rescue progress.
Beyond immediate disaster response, the ministry announced a major initiative to reduce the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in Nepal’s high Himalayan regions. Through the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, the government has advanced a climate adaptation programme targeting four high-risk glacial lakes: Tallokarung, Hongu-2, Lumding and Lower Barun. The programme, supported by technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and joint investment from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Nepal, aims to lower water levels in the identified lakes and establish early warning systems in vulnerable downstream areas. The ministry stated that these measures are intended to reduce potential damage from future glacial lake outburst floods and strengthen climate resilience in mountainous communities.
The ministry also announced plans to implement six key safety concepts across hydropower construction and operation, covering designated project safety officers, insurance, risk accountability, search and rescue arrangements, minimum safety inventories and rapid information-sharing mechanisms. These measures are intended to strengthen occupational safety, disaster preparedness and emergency response at hydropower projects. Separately, the ministry stated that the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat would commission a scientific study into the causes and characteristics of the Bhotekoshi flood, with technical experts examining available evidence. The press release, signed by Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shakya, outlines ongoing recovery and preventive measures but does not confirm the completion of all rescue operations or the implementation of every proposed safety initiative.
