Nepal home minister tells critics to focus on results, not where he works

Nepal’s home minister says critics should judge the flood response by its results, not by where he works. Sudan Gurung faced criticism online after a video showed him carrying an oxygen cylinder connected to one of two workers rescued from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project.

Gurung had flown from Kathmandu to the project site on Friday morning. He later defended his decision to coordinate much of the response remotely, saying the Home Ministry’s disaster-response system was operating with senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies. “Working through digital channels is much faster and more effective than sitting behind a desk. So rather than worrying about where I am, I ask that you focus on the results,” he said.

“

Working through digital channels is much faster and more effective than sitting behind a desk. So rather than worrying about where I am, I ask that you focus on the results.

He said command operations and strategic meetings were taking place online every four hours. Gurung argued that the country had suffered when leaders worked from offices without understanding conditions on the ground. “For years, we have suffered the consequences of leading only from our desks without understanding the reality on the ground,” he said. “It surprises me that some people are still pressuring us to follow the same old approach while expecting different and better results.”

“

For years, we have suffered the consequences of leading only from our desks without understanding the reality on the ground. It surprises me that some people are still pressuring us to follow the same old approach while expecting different and better results.

The dispute followed the rescue of Sanjay Sah of Saptari and Kabir Maharjan of Kathmandu. Both men had been trapped underground for nine days and were flown to Kathmandu for medical treatment. Gurung thanked the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Central Command Centre, saying teams were still working through the tunnels.

The search began after flooding from the Bhotekoshi river struck the project area on August 26, damaging the hydropower project and trapping workers in underground structures. Gurung said the discovery of two survivors had kept hope alive for others who might still be trapped.

“

Despite the continuous and difficult challenges, I sincerely thank the teams from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the Central Command Centre who have been involved in the rescue.