Rescue operations were underway on Monday to reach workers believed to be trapped in tunnels at hydropower sites buried in mud due to severe flooding in Nepal and China. The death toll in both countries has exceeded 900, with over 4,700 individuals reported missing. The Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal stated that approximately 900 workers were unaccounted for across 12 damaged hydropower projects in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
Estimates suggest that around 500 of the missing workers may be stuck in the tunnels, although authorities have provided varying figures. Foreign teams are assisting Nepali rescuers in the search and rescue efforts. While some experts believe that the tunnels offer space for refuge and access to oxygen, others are concerned that the chances of finding survivors are decreasing.
Efforts are focused on rescuing individuals trapped in the expansive tunnels constructed for waterflow control in hydropower production. In the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district, around 300 out of 576 missing individuals are believed to be trapped inside the project’s tunnel. Meanwhile, in China, reconstruction efforts are underway, including rebuilding roads to facilitate rescue operations at the Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border.
Maraval Nagappan, who traveled to Nepal in search of his missing son, shared his heartbreaking journey of visiting rescue centers and morgues in hopes of finding him. His son was leading a group of 49 Indian devotees caught in the floodwaters at a Chinese immigration complex. The pilgrimage group had been en route from Mount Kailash in Tibet, with no contact established since the disaster.
The catastrophic flash floods were triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayan region, leading to devastating consequences in both Tibet and Nepal. The event, marked by a seismic event of magnitude 5.2, caused widespread destruction as rocks and melted water surged downstream, engulfing buildings and infrastructure. Rescue teams continue their relentless efforts to locate and save those trapped in the aftermath of this natural disaster.
