Nepal searches for more than 100 trapped in hydropower tunnel
As requested by Nepal, India is preparing to send a specialised tunnel rescue team.
KATHMANDU: Nepal's army is searching for over a hundred people trapped in a hydropower tunnel following severe floods that struck the area two days ago. India has offered to send a specialized rescue team, given Nepal's experience in intricate Himalayan tunnel rescues.
Families are anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones, with one woman telling reporters she has not heard from her husband since speaking to him at 7am on the day of the disaster. "We will have hope as long as we have our breath... We need them to be rescued as soon as possible," she said.
Two army helicopters were dispatched to the Trishuli 3A hydropower project in the Rasuwa district, but the search is proving challenging, as locating the tunnel's entry points is difficult. Nepal's prime minister's office reported that the army has already rescued 350 people under extremely risky and challenging conditions, but more than 100 remain trapped.
India's specialized tunnel rescue team is expected to arrive in Nepal, following a reconnaissance team to assess conditions and determine necessary equipment. India's foreign ministry spokesman stated that they are preparing to send the team as requested by Nepal.
Nepal has sought international financial assistance after the floods, but stated that they are managing without foreign rescue teams for now. India is also sending a medical team and engineers with a portable metal Bailey bridge. The scale of destruction is evident, with roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure damaged. More than 10% of Nepal's installed electricity generation capacity and 15 power projects under construction have been affected.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
