Rescue workers are in a race against time to free numerous workers believed to be trapped in tunnels at hydropower facilities buried in mud due to catastrophic flooding on the Nepal-China border. The death toll has risen, with over 950 fatalities in Nepal and China and more than 4,400 individuals missing. A private-sector group representing power companies disclosed that approximately 900 workers are missing at 12 hydropower projects in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, with around 500 of them potentially trapped in tunnels.
While some workers may have access to oxygen, the chances of finding survivors are decreasing. Efforts to rescue those trapped intensified as four bodies were recovered from tunnels filled with mud, as reported by Nepal’s army. Arnold Dix, an Australian tunnel rescue expert, expressed optimism about finding survivors and aiding in rescue operations at the affected hydro project sites.
Rescuers have been assisting at the scene ever since the disaster struck last Wednesday, but it remains uncertain if contact has been established with the trapped workers. The lack of heavy equipment and experience with such calamities poses challenges, yet the commitment to locating the missing workers remains unwavering.
In the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, hundreds of individuals, including workers, remain unaccounted for, with a significant number believed to be trapped inside the project’s tunnel. Efforts are underway to reach those inside the Trishuli-3 Hydropower Project’s tunnel by descending approximately 15 meters. Additionally, in China, reconstruction efforts include rebuilding the road leading to the Gyirong Port border crossing, crucial for regulating travel between the two countries.
The disaster has also impacted individuals from various nations, with Canadians among those still missing. Family members are clinging to hope and are actively seeking information about their loved ones. The international community, including Canada, is collaborating to locate and support affected individuals. The devastating event was triggered by a glacial collapse, resulting in destructive floods in the region.
