Efforts were underway on Monday to rescue hundreds of workers believed to be trapped in tunnels at hydropower sites along the Nepal-China border, engulfed in mud due to severe flooding. The death toll from the disaster surpassed 950 in Nepal and China, with over 4,400 individuals missing. Approximately 900 workers were unaccounted for in 12 damaged hydropower projects in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, with around 500 workers suspected to be stuck in tunnels.
Rescue operations faced challenges as experts indicated that while some trapped workers may have access to oxygen, the likelihood of finding survivors was decreasing. The Nepal army recovered four bodies from mud-filled tunnels as the search intensified. Arnold Dix, an Australian tunnel rescue specialist, expressed optimism about locating survivors amidst the devastation.
Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), mentioned that workers managed to call for help during the initial disaster. Uttam Bhlon Lama, senior vice-president at IPPAN, emphasized the association’s collaborative efforts with the government to aid in rescue operations.
Efforts were concentrated on rescuing individuals trapped within the expansive tunnels constructed to control water flow. The Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project reported 576 missing individuals, with a significant number believed to be inside the project’s tunnel. Rescue teams were striving to access trapped workers at the Trishuli-3 Hydropower Project.
In China, reconstruction works included restoring the road to the Gyirong Port border crossing. Despite challenges posed by incessant rainfall, crews were endeavoring to repair the road submerged under several meters of water. Chinese authorities were engaged in rescue activities, with little information available on the affected individuals.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand disclosed that around 30 Canadians were missing in the disaster. Concerned families awaited news, hoping for the safe return of their loved ones. Maraval Nagappan’s search for his missing son, part of a group caught in the flood, highlighted the emotional toll on families grappling with uncertainty.