India has approved export of power to Nepal for 18 ​hours a day until December 31 after a devastating ‌flood in the Himalayan nation last month wiped out about a tenth of its generation capacity, neighbour India's power ministry said on Monday.

The ​deluge, triggered by the collapse of a glacier, has killed nearly ​1,400 people in Nepal and Tibet, and swept ⁠away more than 12 hydropower plants in Nepal.

About 900 power station ​workers are among more than 5,300 people still missing. Approval has ​been given to export up to 654 megawatts, the ministry said in its statement, adding that the quantum of power to be exported from ​January would be reviewed in December.

"The approval will help ​Nepal meet its power requirements during this difficult period and further ‌strengthen ⁠the close and longstanding energy cooperation between India and Nepal," it said.
Hydropower, which supplies almost all of Nepal's electricity, had become a fast-growing source of its export revenue.

After the flood ​ravaged the Bagmati province, its ​main hydropower-producing ⁠region, however, the country halted power exports and said it would buy electricity from India ​to cover domestic shortages in the coming ​months.

Nepali officials ⁠said last week that they would ask wealthier countries and global agencies for financial help, arguing they should contribute ⁠to the $5 ​billion needed for initial rebuilding ​as the disaster shows how climate change has hit poor countries that did little ​to cause it.

Source: Reuters