India approves 654 MW power export to flood-hit Nepal until December 31

India has approved the export of up to 654 MW of electricity to Nepal for 18 hours a day until December 31, as the neighbouring country battles an acute power shortage after devastating floods damaged large parts of its hydropower infrastructure.

The Ministry of Power said the electricity will be supplied to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) between midnight and 6 pm every day from September 13 to December 31.

The emergency arrangement is intended to help Nepal compensate for the loss of domestic generation capacity and maintain electricity supplies while restoration work continues on damaged hydropower facilities. The quantity of electricity to be exported from January 2027 will be reviewed in December 2026.

Two transmission lines will carry the additional power

The approved supply will be routed through two existing cross-border transmission links.

Up to 600 MW can be transmitted through the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar 400 kV double-circuit transmission line. Another 54 MW can be supplied through the Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV single-circuit transmission line.

The arrangement will allow Nepal to draw electricity during the specified 18-hour window and provide immediate support to its power system as it deals with the impact of the floods.

The timing of the supply also enables Nepal to access electricity during daytime hours, when India's solar generation is relatively strong. India has increasingly used its growing renewable capacity to meet domestic requirements while also facilitating cross-border power trade.

Floods severely damaged Nepal's hydropower capacity

The decision comes after catastrophic flooding and landslides caused extensive damage across Nepal.

The disaster severely affected hydropower infrastructure, with more than 12 hydropower plants reportedly damaged or swept away. Nepal relies heavily on hydropower for electricity generation and had to turn to imports after the disaster sharply reduced its domestic generation capacity.

Nepal also normally imports electricity from India during periods when river and stream flows are low and domestic hydropower generation falls. The recent destruction of power infrastructure has made the need for imports particularly urgent.

The Ministry of Power said the additional supply would help Nepal meet its electricity requirements during the crisis and strengthen the longstanding energy partnership between the two countries.

India has said it remains committed to supporting Nepal and expanding bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

Nepal's flood toll continues to rise

The power arrangement comes as Nepal continues to deal with a massive humanitarian crisis caused by the floods.

According to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1,385 bodies had been recovered and around 5,130 people remained missing as of September 11. More than 13,676 people had been rescued, including over 320 foreign nationals. The government said the figures remained subject to continuous updating as search, recovery and verification operations continued.

The disaster has damaged roads, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure across affected areas, further complicating rescue and relief operations.

The scale of destruction has also affected critical hydropower projects, with hundreds of power-sector workers among those reported missing. The damage has created an immediate need for alternative sources of electricity while Nepal works to restore its generation capacity.

India expands humanitarian assistance

The electricity export is part of India's wider assistance to Nepal following the devastating floods.

India has sent more than 130 tonnes of relief material to Nepal through eight special flights since August 26, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The eighth Indian Air Force flight carrying relief and rescue supplies arrived in Kathmandu recently.

India has also deployed 54 specialist personnel to assist with search, rescue and forensic operations. The assistance includes specialised equipment such as mud-rescue suits, gas detectors, breathing apparatus, inflatable walkways, portable generators, lighting towers and dewatering pumps. India has also supplied DNA kits and equipment to support efforts to identify victims.

Indian specialist tunnel-rescue teams have been working alongside the Nepali Army at sites including Chilime and Langtang, where difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure have complicated rescue efforts.

Power supply to be reviewed before 2027

The Ministry of Power has described the electricity export as an immediate measure to help Nepal overcome the shortfall created by the destruction of its hydropower facilities.

The approved 654 MW supply will remain in place through December 31. The quantum of electricity that can be exported from January 2027 will be reviewed in December, allowing the two countries to assess Nepal's recovery and electricity requirements before deciding on the next phase of the arrangement.

The decision adds an energy component to India's broader emergency response and is expected to provide Nepal with some stability as it works to rebuild infrastructure damaged by the floods.