NEA workers urge Prime Minister Shah to speed up rescue of people trapped in hydropower tunnels

Nepal Electricity Authority employees have asked Prime Minister Balen Shah to intervene immediately, warning that delays could cost the lives of colleagues and workers trapped inside hydropower tunnels.

The employees wrote under pseudonyms because they feared retaliation. In a letter obtained by Onlinekhabar, they said every minute had become critical and questioned why foreign rescuers and other groups ready to help had not received permission or coordination in time.

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Why are we unable to conduct rescue operations simultaneously at all the locations where they are urgently needed?

They also challenged the apparent decision to conduct rescue work sequentially, with one site handled before operations began at another. “Why are we unable to conduct rescue operations simultaneously at all the locations where they are urgently needed?” they asked.

The employees urged the government to remove administrative delays, authorise capable national and international rescue teams, and mobilise resources at all critical locations. “The priority right now is only to save lives. Every minute of delay could mean losing someone’s chance of survival,” they wrote.

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We sincerely request that necessary steps be taken immediately to accelerate the ongoing rescue operations.

Hundreds of employees and workers linked to Nepal Electricity Authority projects and subsidiaries have been reported missing after floods in Rasuwa. The flooding damaged projects including Upper Trishuli 3A, Upper Trishuli 3B, Rasuwagadhi, Chilime, Trishuli and Devighat.

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The priority right now is only to save lives. Every minute of delay could mean losing someone’s chance of survival.

The Nepal Army has recovered two bodies from the Chilime tunnel. An army team entered the Rasuwagadhi tunnel but returned without finding anyone. An Electricity Authority source said at least three people had been working at the powerhouse that day because the facility was operating, but the team had not reached it.

Workers at other projects, including Upper Trishuli-1, Langtang, Mailung Khola, Rasuwa Bhotekoshi and Middle Trishuli, have also been reported missing.

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Please take action now. There is no time to wait.