At a Glance

• Rescuers in Nepal resumed search operations on Sunday to reach hydropower workers trapped in tunnels following severe flooding.

• Rescue efforts, now entering their fifth day, were temporarily hampered overnight by heavy rain and rising river levels.

• Authorities estimate that over 100 workers may still be trapped across multiple hydropower sites along the Trishuli corridor.

• Specialized national teams, alongside international experts, are utilizing drilling machines, cameras, and heavy excavation equipment.

Rescue operations at key hydropower infrastructure sites resumed after overnight weather conditions receded. Emergency personnel face severe challenges clearing thick mud and debris deposited by catastrophic floods triggered by a glacial collapse near the border.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Tunnel Breakthroughs: Army rescue units successfully drilled into the upper section of a mud-swamped tunnel at the Trishuli 3A site, deploying air pumps and specialized inspection cameras.

• Weather Disruptions: Pre-dawn rainfall caused river levels to swell and flooded excavation zones, forcing temporary pauses before operations restarted.

• Multidisciplinary Response: Specialized mountain rescue squads, alongside international teams from India and China, continue coordinated efforts utilizing excavators and hydraulic cutters.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that hundreds of project workers remain missing following the disaster. Meanwhile, the Nepal Electricity Authority confirmed that multiple operational and under-construction power stations have sustained extensive damage, significantly impacting regional energy generation capacity.

FYI

Hydropower tunneling projects in Himalayan regions often incorporate complex underground networks of powerhouses, penstocks, and access shafts. When inundated by sudden debris flows, these confined spaces present extreme hazards due to compromised structural integrity, limited oxygen supply, and restricted egress routes.

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