Rescue teams in Nepal are focusing on locating 933 workers and employees from hydropower projects who have been uncontactable since August 26. Reports suggest that more than 600 individuals may be trapped inside various tunnels affected by the recent catastrophic floods. Meanwhile, around 279 individuals have reportedly been successfully rescued.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority is overseeing these coordinated efforts, which have seen the inclusion of rescue teams from India and China. The flooding situation was believed to have originated from a significant collapse or avalanche involving ice and rock near the Nepal-Tibet border. This disaster has severely affected towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.

Numbers indicate that hundreds have lost their lives. Meanwhile, thousands remain missing in the wake of the flooding caused primarily by the Bhotekoshi River carrying the torrent downstream. Eyewitness accounts from survivors emphasise the scale and urgency of the rescue efforts. The floods destroyed numerous homes, vehicles, roads, and bridges, leading to extensive damage to infrastructure, particularly within hydropower projects.

Survivors Share Harrowing Experiences

At the Mailung Hydropower Project in Rasuwa, a worker named Shiva Giri reported that he and six colleagues had to climb to higher ground as the floodwaters rapidly encroached on their worksite. Giri lost several colleagues, including a cousin, to the surging waters. After being cut off from established routes to Timure and Dhunche, the group traversed through a forest for approximately 12 hours seeking shelter in a cave before they managed to signal for help.

Rescuers later airlifted them to Kathmandu, where Giri is now receiving medical care at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. In another instance, civil engineer Sandip Rana described escaping from the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project along with around 100 workers. An emergency siren alerted them to the impending flood, prompting them to move to higher ground. They climbed for several hours while witnessing the devastation of their worksite, where buildings, camps, and roads were engulfed by floodwaters.

Rana and a few others trekked for seven to eight hours before finally reaching a nearby road to safety. Another survivor, Ramchandra, managed to survive inside a tunnel near the Trishuli River. He recounted being trapped with five colleagues when water began to surge into the tunnel. Holding onto an iron ladder, Ramchandra described how they used a sheet of tin to stabilise themselves while navigating the perilous conditions enhanced by rising water levels.

Continued Efforts to Reach Trapped Workers

Efforts by the Nepali Army and rescue teams at the Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project have been intensified. Teams are utilising heavy machinery and controlled blasting techniques to widen an entrance to the tunnel, where individuals are believed to be trapped. A joint rescue operation comprising about 90 personnel has been dispatched to this site.

Rescue officials reported reaching the main section of the tunnel and creating a six-square-foot opening during their operations. Although they attempted to communicate with those inside by calling down through the opening, they did not receive any response. Concurrently, heavy equipment is being deployed to expedite the rescue operations, with preparations to further widen the tunnel’s entrance.

Despite the ongoing rescue efforts, many remain unaccounted for, illustrating the profound impact of the floods across Nepal’s hydropower sector. The complexity of the situation, coupled with survivor testimonies from various project sites, highlights the significant challenge that responders continue to face as they strive to locate those still missing.

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