Nepal Floods: Rescue Efforts Underway for Over 100 Trapped in Hydroelectric Tunnel

Rescue operations are underway in Nepal, where over 100 individuals remain trapped inside a hydroelectric tunnel following devastating floods. Nepalese army helicopters are actively involved in the efforts to reach those stranded in the Rasuwa district's Upper Trishuli Hydroelectric Project.

The floods, which struck the country's northern border region, were triggered by a massive glacial lake outburst two days prior. This event sent a torrent of ice, rocks, and debris down the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi rivers, sweeping away buildings and infrastructure for nearly 100 kilometers. The disaster has severed a crucial highway connecting Nepal and China.

According to the Prime Minister's office, the army has already rescued 350 workers and local residents from the tunnel. However, rescuers face challenging conditions, with difficult access to the tunnel itself. "Our main focus is on search and rescue operations," stated Raja Ram Basnet, a spokesperson for the Nepalese army, adding that essential aid is being provided to survivors.

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Our main focus is on search and rescue operations.

Witnesses described the floods as overwhelming, with water inundating construction sites instantaneously. Deva Shrestha, evacuated by helicopter from another hydroelectric project site, reported that "more people died than were saved." Another worker, Buddha Tamang, attributed his survival to being inside the tunnel when the floodwaters hit, narrowly escaping the surge that swept away colleagues working on the other side.

The death toll from the floods and associated landslides in Nepal and Tibet has surpassed 543, with at least 538 confirmed fatalities in Nepal and five in Tibet, according to official figures. More than 1,400 people are still missing, including numerous foreign nationals. Scientists analyzing satellite imagery suggest the disaster originated from a rockfall beneath a glacier high in the Himalayas, which dislodged ice and caused the subsequent massive flood.

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More people died than were saved.