Kali Gandaki Floods Inundate 50 Houses in Setibeni, Hydropower Plant Shut

Floodwaters from the swollen Kali Gandaki River have inundated around 50 houses in the Setibeni area, while a key bridge linking Syangja and Gulmi has been swept away after several days of continuous heavy rain.

The flooding has affected settlements on both sides of the river. Around 30 houses in Bihadi Rural Municipality-6 of Parbat and another 20 in Galyang Municipality-5 of Syangja have been inundated as the river level continues to rise.

Setibeni lies near the meeting point of Syangja, Parbat and Gulmi and is one of the areas most exposed to rising water from the Kali Gandaki and surrounding waterways. Local authorities have increased monitoring as rainfall continues across the upper catchment.

Bridge collapse cuts Syangja-Gulmi connection

The flooding also completely destroyed a concrete motorable bridge connecting Mirmi in Syangja’s Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-7 with Harmichaur in Gulmi’s Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-1.

The bridge was initially damaged as the river rose and was eventually swept away at around 6 a.m. Sunday. The collapse has cut direct road access between Syangja and Gulmi and disrupted vehicles travelling through the area.

The approximately 50-metre bridge was built in 1996 during the construction of the Kali Gandaki ‘A’ Hydropower Project. The structure had become increasingly vulnerable after years of limited maintenance and river erosion.

Its loss has also affected the wider road connection towards Gulmi’s Arbeni, Purti­ghat and Baglung, while travellers coming from those areas towards Syangja, Palpa and Butwal have been affected.

144 MW hydropower project stops generation

The extreme rise in the Kali Gandaki has also forced the shutdown of the 144-megawatt Kali Gandaki ‘A’ Hydropower Project at Beltari in Syangja.

The project stopped electricity generation on Friday night after the river level rose significantly around the powerhouse. Kantipur reported that the river had risen about 15 metres above the tailrace, the channel through which water leaves the powerhouse.

All three gates at the project’s Mirmi dam have been opened to allow the high river flow to pass through. The three turbines were also shut down as the rising water created flooding risks around the powerhouse.

The plant has a 144 MW installed capacity and began operation in 2002. Its flood-management design includes opening the spillway gates and stopping generation during major flood events when river discharge becomes exceptionally high.

According to the project, this is an unusually serious flood event for the facility. Generation is expected to resume once river conditions return to a safe level.

Authorities warn riverside communities

The latest flooding has prompted authorities in Syangja to warn people living close to rivers and streams to remain alert.

Residents in areas including Ridi, Ramdi, Malunga and Chapakot have been advised to stay cautious as water levels in the Kali Gandaki and smaller tributaries rise.

The warning comes as heavy rain continues in parts of the river’s upper catchment, including areas of Baglung and Myagdi. Further rainfall could increase the amount of water reaching the Kali Gandaki system.

Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has also been monitoring river conditions through its river-watch network, including the Kali Gandaki at Modi Beni and Kota Gaon and the Seti Khola at Setibeni.

Flood risk extends beyond Setibeni

The damage at Setibeni and Mirmi is part of a wider pattern of flood and landslide impacts being reported across western Nepal after days of intense rainfall.

A separate report said the Kali Gandaki flood has already affected infrastructure around Mirmi, while settlements near the river face increasing inundation risks.

The immediate concern for authorities is keeping people away from unstable riverbanks and flooded structures while maintaining access for emergency response.

With the Mirmi-Harmichaur bridge gone, the disruption is likely to continue even after the river recedes. Re-establishing the road connection will require assessment of the damaged approaches and a longer-term replacement for the ageing bridge.

For residents of Setibeni and other riverside settlements, however, the priority remains the same: staying clear of rapidly rising water as the Kali Gandaki continues to run high.