Rescue teams in Nepal are working to locate more than 900 hydropower workers who are feared trapped in the tunnels of 12 projects after flash floods swept through the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The disaster authority said about 500 of the missing workers are likely inside water‑control tunnels, while the overall death toll in Nepal has risen to 939 and 16 more deaths were reported in Tibet. More than 4,400 people remain missing on both sides of the border.
The operation is hampered by rugged terrain, persistently high flood waters and unpredictable weather. Over 40 bridges have been destroyed, forcing rescuers to rely on helicopters, while India and China are supplying prefabricated truss bridges to restore access. The swollen Trishuli River continues to shift its course, turning dry areas into flood zones within hours and complicating planning.
Army engineers have begun blasting at the Upper Trishuli hydroelectric site, where about 250 people were rescued over the weekend and another 42 workers are thought to be missing. Damage to hydropower infrastructure is estimated at 700 megawatts, roughly 10% of Nepal’s power capacity, and earth‑moving equipment is being used to clear mud and debris from tunnel entrances.
Guides and mountaineers on the ground report that mud up to chest height has turned tunnels into near‑impassable chambers. They are improvising with wooden planks as makeshift bridges and ropes to navigate the sludge, hoping that safe zones within the tunnels may still hold survivors.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the rescue as “challenging due to adverse weather, difficult terrain and ongoing risks,” noting that nearly 21,000 security personnel, civilian workers and volunteers are involved. International assistance includes a UK rapid‑deployment team with a £5 million aid package and Chinese support of over 2,100 workers and 220 million yuan for relief efforts.
