Race to free hundreds feared trapped in Nepal’s hydropower tunnels as flood deaths surpass 950
At least 900 workers are still reportedly unaccounted for from 12 hydropower projects destroyed or damaged by last week’s flash floods.
In Nepal's capital, heartbroken families of those missing in the recent devastating floods post photographs on a massive 25-metre wall, clinging to any remaining hope of finding their loved ones. Nearly 4,500 people remain missing after a Himalayan glacier collapse on the China-Nepal border unleashed a tsunami-like surge of icy water and debris, claiming over 900 lives.
Nearly 4,000 of the missing are Nepalese citizens, including nearly 600 foreigners. Prakash Chhetri, 46, posted a picture of his brother alongside nine pilgrims he was carrying to Gosaikunda. Of the nine pilgrims, only one survived by jumping from the vehicle. Near the top of the wall, photographs of family members grouped together are seen - a 30-year-old woman, another aged 35 and her 8-year-old daughter, alongside athletic young men, such as a Sherpa wearing sunglasses and a sports jacket, and a mother proudly holding her toddler.
Debu Sapkota, a 58-year-old driver, arrived to post images of his 83-year-old mother-in-law and granddaughter who were swept away in the town of Trishuli Bazaar. Sapkota now has no hope of their survival, as they were carried away by the torrent. He holds up photos of the two elderly women in traditional clothes, hoping to identify their bodies.
A continuous stream of people, including Chinese workers and engineers at hydropower construction sites, Chinese traders, Indian pilgrims, and an American tourist, visit the gallery to view the displayed images. Meanwhile, pictures of bodies recovered from the mud are on display near the hospital's mortuary, with relatives still hoping to identify them.
Police operate an office in an open-air courtyard to aid with body identification, having received 94 bodies, of which only 12 have been identified and returned to families. The ongoing effort to locate victims persists, both online and through a government website compiling information on survivors and the missing, as well as pleas for assistance.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 9 other outlets
- Nepal flood survivors fear loss of culture and community winnipegfreepress.com
- Nepal-China flood death toll exceeds 1,000; Nepal PM demands climate action dawn.com
- Family fear for missing hydropower worker after Nepal flood bbc.co.uk
- Nepal's wall of missing offers last hope after Himalayan flood nst.com.my
- Nepal flood death toll passes 1,000 as rescue efforts enter seventh day malaymail.com
- 'Giant morgue': Nepal flood victims overwhelm downstream city koreatimes.co.kr
- Race against time as 600 remain trapped in hydro project tunnels hindustantimes.com
- Race to free hundreds feared trapped in Nepal’s hydropower tunnels as flood deaths surpass 950 theage.com.au
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