Rescue efforts ongoing as over 900 flood-related deaths reported in Nepal, with hundreds of workers trapped in hydropower tunnels.
KATHMANDU, Nepal – Rescue operations intensified on Monday as workers remained unaccounted for beneath the debris of hydropower sites, following devastating floods that have severely affected both Nepal and China. The natural disaster has claimed a staggering death toll exceeding 900, with more than 4,700 individuals reported missing, according to officials. In particular, the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal disclosed that approximately 900 workers are untraceable across 12 hydropower projects located in the severely impacted Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
Mohan Kumar Dangi, the president of the association, reported that it is estimated that around 500 of these missing workers may be trapped within tunnels at various sites. The government has announced that foreign rescue teams are aiding local efforts, though exact numbers and the status of the missing remain ambiguous.
Experts have suggested that the tunnels, designed to facilitate hydropower operations, could provide sanctuary for some trapped individuals. There is a potential for access to oxygen, but hopes of survival are diminishing as time progresses. Dangi confirmed that some workers were able to communicate for assistance when the flood struck last Wednesday, with others evading danger and relaying information regarding their still-trapped colleagues. Six days post-disaster, fears of suffocation among those inside the tunnels are rising.
Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, a spokesperson for the Nepalese army, stated that search and rescue operations are ongoing throughout affected hills, settlements, and river areas. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority of Nepal has documented 903 fatalities, alongside 4,247 individuals missing, which includes over 590 foreigners. Meanwhile, Chinese officials have reported 16 fatalities, with 546 unaccounted for; state media noted that over 261 among the missing are foreign nationals, including many Nepalis.
In the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, at least 576 individuals remain unaccounted for, with 300 believed to be trapped in the corresponding tunnels. As rescue efforts continue, heavy rainfall complicates operations. At the Trishuli-3 Hydropower Project, crews are reportedly attempting to access individuals approximately 50 feet below ground.
On the Chinese side, recovery efforts are focused on constructing a road leading to Gyirong Port, a crucial route obstructed by flooding. State broadcaster CCTV reported that trucks are carrying materials to repave significant portions of the highway, which is currently submerged under up to 3 meters of water.
Amidst these desperate circumstances, families of missing individuals are frantically seeking information. Maraval Nagappan, who traveled from India to locate his son—who had been leading a group of pilgrims—expressed profound anxiety and distress over the absence of news regarding their fate.
The floods, triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayan region, represent an urgent reminder of the potential catastrophic impacts of climate-induced natural disasters. Scientists have indicated that the bedrock beneath a glacier gave way, exacerbating the flooding across both Nepal and Tibet.
As the situation unfolds, the affected regions remain in the throes of emergency measures, with hopes for surviving individuals dwindling. Rescue teams continue to navigate challenging conditions in pursuit of those still trapped beneath the rubble. The grief for families and communities devastated by this disaster underscores the enduring human toll of such catastrophic events.
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