India Steps Up to Aid Nepal with Electricity Amid Flood Crisis

In a significant move to support its neighbor, India has announced the expedited export of electricity to Nepal, which is grappling with severe power shortages following devastating floods that struck last month. The Indian Ministry of Power confirmed on Monday that it would supply up to 654 megawatts of electricity for 18 hours each day, a measure expected to last until the end of December.

This initiative comes as Nepal faces a critical energy crisis after floods, triggered by a glacial collapse on the China-Nepal border on August 26, wreaked havoc on its hydropower infrastructure. The floods have claimed over 1,400 lives and left more than 5,500 individuals unaccounted for, including 900 workers from various hydropower projects that were directly impacted.

Before the floods, nearly all of Nepal’s energy needs were satisfied by hydropower, and the country had been exporting excess electricity to India. Now, with many displaced residents taking refuge in aid centers and no immediate relief in sight, Nepal has turned to India for assistance. The United Nations has launched a $50 million appeal to aid survivors, while Nepali officials estimate that $5 billion will be required for initial recovery efforts. This disaster underscores the urgent challenges posed by climate change, particularly for vulnerable nations like Nepal.

Source: www.aljazeera.com