- Floods hit Nepal and Tibet, leaving more than 3,000 missing.
- China reported 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries missing on the Tibetan side, with 104 from Nepal.
- Nepal's foreign minister stated the country required specialist assistance to rescue people trapped in tunnels and conduct DNA testing.
- International rescue support arrived, including a team of Indian tunnel experts and five Chinese tunnel experts, while the US pledged $3.6m in humanitarian aid.
- Rescuers deployed heavy machinery after rain hampered efforts, completing drilling of four holes and preparing to enter the tunnel directly.
- Four days after the disaster, authorities reported that some bodies being recovered had decomposed beyond recognition and would be buried after legal formalities.
Rescue operations in Nepal are intensifying as authorities report over 3,000 people missing and at least 750 dead following catastrophic floods. The Nepali army has successfully inserted a pipe into a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric site, where it is believed that more than 100 workers may still be alive and trapped.1
Rescue teams have been battling challenging conditions, with heavy machinery deployed to assist in the recovery efforts. The energy ministry confirmed that drilling of four holes has been completed, and preparations are underway to enter the tunnel directly for search and rescue operations.6
The situation remains dire, as authorities reported that some bodies recovered had decomposed beyond recognition, necessitating DNA testing for identification. The foreign minister, Shisir Khanal, emphasized the need for specialist assistance to restore transport and communication lines, identify bodies, and conduct DNA testing.37
International aid is also being mobilized, with the US pledging $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance, including emergency food for flood-affected households. Additionally, teams of tunnel experts from India and China have arrived to support the rescue efforts.
As the rescue operations enter their fifth day, the urgency to locate and save those trapped continues to grow amidst the ongoing challenges posed by the floods.
“China said 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries were missing on the Tibetan side, with 104 from Nepal, while the US pledged $3.6m in aid. Nepal's foreign minister requested specialist assistance for tunnel rescue and DNA testing as bodies decomposed beyond recognition.”
The Guardian
