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Himalayan Floods Destroy Key Bridge and Hydropower Dams in Nepal
5 Aug
Summary
- Floods damaged hydropower dams and destroyed main bridge to China
- 10 damaged hydropower facilities could power 600,000 homes
- Repeated disasters take financial and emotional toll on local residents

In July 2025, devastating floods struck Nepal's Himalayan region, causing significant damage to the country's infrastructure and disrupting vital cross-border trade. The flooding of the Bhotekoshi River on July 8th damaged 10 hydropower facilities, including 3 under construction, with a combined capacity to power 600,000 South Asian homes.
The floods also destroyed the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge, a critical link between Nepal and China. Rebuilding the bridge after a 2015 earthquake had cost $68 million, and the latest disaster has stoked fears of long-lasting economic damage in the region. Nepali officials estimate that $724 million worth of trade with China is conducted over the bridge each year, but that has now come to a standstill.
The extreme weather event has highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructure in the Himalayan region, which is warming faster than the rest of the world due to climate change. Experts warn that the "statistics of the past no longer apply for the future," as the risk of building bridges and other infrastructure has increased significantly. They emphasize the need for smart, climate-resilient rebuilding plans to protect communities from the growing threat of extreme weather.