Nepal teams seek hundreds trapped in hydropower tunnels after deadly floods

Nepal's rescue teams, backed by Chinese and Indian experts, raced overnight to reach hundreds trapped inside blocked hydropower project tunnels after the devastating floods that swept through the Himalayan border region. The unexpected deluge, caused by a glacier collapse, resulted in nearly 800 deaths and left over 3,000 people missing, with more than 90,000 likely affected across Nepal and China.

The disaster management authority reported 933 missing from hydropower projects, while the Red Cross estimated the impact to be even greater. Rescue efforts faced significant challenges due to the heavy debris obstructing the tunnels, prompting workers to dig through mud and rocks under the cover of darkness. Nepal's PM Balendra Shah described the flood as an "unprecedented and devastating natural disaster," emphasizing the difficulty in assessing the full extent of the damage.

Security personnel, civilian workers, and volunteers collaborated in the rescue operations, involving nearly 21,000 individuals. China mobilized over 2,100 rescue workers and allocated $33 million, while its soldiers utilized advanced life-detection equipment in their search efforts. Despite the weather improving on Monday, rescue operations continued, with survivors in the affected areas attempting to salvage their belongings from the rubble.

The cause of the disaster was attributed to glacier instability due to climate change, a growing concern on the Tibetan plateau, and Nepal sought assistance from its neighbors, India and China, for their expertise in tunnel rescue operations.