What happened

Catastrophic flash floods and mudslides beginning on 26 August damaged or inundated hydropower projects across Nepal's Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts, knocking out about 10% of national generating capacity. The Independent Power Producers' Association Nepal said more than 900 workers were unaccounted for across roughly 12 projects, with about 500 believed to have sheltered or become trapped in large access and water-diversion tunnels. Rescue teams used a controlled explosion at the 60 MW Upper Trishuli 3A project on 31 August to open a route through debris while excavators cleared mud reported to be about 30 feet deep. The controlled blast was part of the rescue operation; it did not cause the original damage. Reporting on missing workers and tunnel occupancy remained fluid: the figures apply across multiple projects and should not be interpreted as 900 people trapped inside the single Upper Trishuli 3A tunnel. Nepal's prime minister said 279 people had been rescued from affected hydropower projects by 31 August. The marker identifies Upper Trishuli 3A, where the controlled rescue blast was documented, while the capacity and missing-person figures describe the broader hydropower corridor disaster.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.