198 still missing from Upper Trishuli-3B hydropower project after Bhotekoshi flood

The search for 198 people missing after the Bhotekoshi River flooded Nepal’s Upper Trishuli-3B hydropower project has expanded to tunnels and other areas of the site. The project initially reported 201 people missing or unreachable after the August 26 flood. Three have since made contact, and 91 others have been rescued and taken to safety.

“

Twenty-one of the 48 employees at the project are unaccounted for.

Those still unaccounted for include project employees and relatives, civil construction workers, electromechanical and hydromechanical personnel, consultants, security guards and student interns. Lila Aryal, the deputy director of Trishuli Jal Vidyut Company, said 21 of the project’s 48 employees remained missing. “Twenty-one of the 48 employees at the project are unaccounted for,” Aryal said. “Those who were outside the project site are in contact with us. Everyone else was there.”

The company said everyone inside the project tunnel when the flood struck escaped safely. Water entered the tunnel, forcing them to move to higher ground and wait until the level fell. The project chief and the head of the consulting team have been coordinating the response, joined by 51 Nepali Army personnel.

“

Everyone who was inside the tunnel managed to get out safely.

A search team inspected about 1.5 kilometres of the tunnel but found no indication that anyone was trapped in that section. Mud, silt and darkness prevented the team from going farther. The company is preparing to bring in more equipment, including excavators, by helicopter because the flood damaged road access. Helicopter availability has delayed the effort.

“

They went about 1.5 kilometres into the tunnel and came back after establishing that there was no one there.