- Floods have hit the Nepal-Tibet region, causing widespread devastation.
- Rescuers are racing to reach 900 people believed trapped in hydropower tunnels.
- Nepali officials said the focus was on reaching the 933 people missing from hydropower projects in the flood-hit region.
- Rescuers face challenges due to deep mud and debris, as described by Nepal army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet and rescuer Ashish Gurung.
- Rescuers are hopeful some trapped individuals may be alive, as Gurung noted a safe area inside the tunnel.
- The Red Cross estimates that more than 90,000 people are likely to have been affected by the disaster, which China and some experts linked to glacier instability.
- Nepal's prime minister, Balendra Shah, called the flood an unprecedented and devastating natural disaster and said nearly 21,000 security personnel were involved in rescue operations.
Rescue teams in Nepal are urgently working to reach over 900 individuals trapped in hydropower tunnels following catastrophic floods that have claimed at least 903 lives and left more than 4,000 people missing. The disaster, described by Prime Minister Balendra Shah as an “unprecedented and devastating natural disaster,” has overwhelmed local resources.1910
Rescue operations are complicated by significant debris, with Nepal army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet stating, “A large amount of debris has been deposited and that is posing us a big challenge to open the tunnels.” Pictures from the scene depict earth-moving equipment struggling to clear mud and rubble.456
Ashish Gurung, a local guide turned rescuer, described the conditions inside the tunnels: “There is just mud everywhere. Inside the tunnel it was worse. It’s so difficult to move, the mud is so deep.” Despite the dire situation, there is hope; Gurung noted, “They have a safe area inside. Some of them could potentially be alive. I am hoping they are alive.”7
The Red Cross estimates that over 90,000 people have been affected by the floods, which some experts link to climate change. The scale of the disaster has mobilized nearly 21,000 security personnel alongside civilian volunteers to assist in the rescue efforts.8
“Nepal army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said deep mud and debris pose a big challenge to opening the tunnels, while rescuer Ashish Gurung noted a safe area inside, hoping some may be alive. The Red Cross estimates over 90,000 affected, and PM Balendra Shah called it an unprecedented disaster with nearly 21,000 security personnel involved.”
The Guardian
