Flood chased me as I ran for 20 minutes, Nepal tunnel worker tells BBC
Major efforts to rescue hydropower workers continue as Nepal's death toll exceeds 1,000.
Nepalese hydropower workers described the harrowing experience of being chased by floodwaters for 20 minutes while constructing tunnels near the Trishuli River, according to the BBC. Pemba Dundu Tamang, a worker on the Upper Trishuli 3B Hydropower Project, recounted the sudden gust of wind that dislodged heavy machinery and sent plywood flying.
He and his team managed to run towards the tunnel entrance, narrowly escaping the rising waters. Tamang's family was among those who perished when the floodwaters swept away their homes. Nepal's death toll due to the floods has surpassed 1,000, with around 4,000 people still missing. Engineers are using air pumps to help rescue workers navigate the tunnels and recover survivors.
The workers fear the ongoing crisis could disrupt their work and leave them without food. A report suggests that better early warning systems could have saved lives, as signs of instability were evident days before the disaster. Rescue efforts continue using heavy machinery to clear debris and locate trapped workers.
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