- Rescue efforts are under way near Nepal's Trishuli-3A hydropower site, with crew pumping air into a tunnel where workers are believed to be trapped.
- Home Minister Sudan Gurung shared an update on Facebook saying rescuers had reached the "crown" of the tunnel and started pumping air through a small hole, and they would "now start digging and send a rescue team inside".
- Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said communication had not been established, and rain has complicated efforts with a risk the operation would need to be temporarily suspended due to "increasing water flow".
- The prime minister's office in Nepal says tunnel rescue efforts have been "intensified" at the Trishuli-3A hydropower site, including "blasting operations".
- A joint team of 90 people has been deployed, including armed forces, police, and rescuers with trained dogs.
- Rescuers created a 2x3ft hole (0.6x0.9m) in the crown of the tunnel and descended on ropes, but "received no response from inside" when they called out.
- Operations have continued, with the team "working tirelessly around the clock" despite "difficult and risky conditions", the PM's office says.
- Of the more than 2,500 missing people, hundreds are believed to be workers in Nepal's hydropower sites.
Rescue efforts at Nepal's Trishuli-3A hydropower site are intensifying as hundreds remain trapped in tunnels following devastating floods. The prime minister's office reports that a joint team of 90 personnel, including armed forces and police, is working tirelessly around the clock despite difficult conditions.16
Rescuers have created a 2x3ft hole in the tunnel's crown and are currently pumping air into the area where workers are believed to be trapped. Home Minister Sudan Gurung stated that they have started digging and plan to send a rescue team inside. However, communication has not been established with those inside the tunnel, raising concerns about their safety.23
The situation is dire, with over 2,500 people reported missing across the region, many of whom are workers at hydropower projects. Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha warned that ongoing rain could complicate rescue efforts, potentially leading to a temporary suspension due to increasing water flow in the area. The government is committed to ensuring the safety of those trapped and is mobilizing all available resources to facilitate the rescue operations.45
As the rescue teams continue their efforts, the nation remains hopeful for the safe return of those missing, while grappling with the aftermath of the floods that have devastated the region.
“A joint team of 90, including armed forces and rescuers with trained dogs, is working around the clock despite rain and risky conditions. Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha warns operations may be suspended due to 'increasing water flow'.”
BBC
