Why finding missing workers from Nepal’s hydropower tunnels is proving to be difficult

Nepal’s ongoing struggle to locate hundreds of missing workers trapped inside hydropower tunnels damaged by floods has proven exceedingly challenging. Over 1,000 individuals have perished due to the flooding that has also affected hydropower projects across Nepal and China. Of the missing, approximately 900 are believed to be inside the tunnels, according to officials and industry representatives.

Access to the tunnels has been severely impeded by the floods, debris, and damaged infrastructure, complicating the efforts of rescue teams. Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, a spokesperson for the Nepal Army, noted that specialized teams, supported by foreign experts, are working diligently at various hydropower projects. However, footage from the Army showcases rescuers navigating through dark, debris-filled tunnels, wading through muddy conditions, and overcoming rocky obstacles in their search.

Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal, described the situation as "something unimaginable." Floods have inflicted significant damage on at least 12 hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, with a combined capacity of 670 megawatts. Four projects were under construction, seven were operational, and one was undergoing testing when the floods struck. Dangi emphasized that the flooding was "something unimaginable."

The most formidable obstacle for the rescuers is reaching the workers. Many of Nepal’s hydropower projects are situated in remote, mountainous regions where steep terrain and narrow roads pose significant challenges to access. The floods have exacerbated these difficulties, damaging roads and limiting access to some sites. Furthermore, tunnels have been blocked or severely damaged by the floods, which have swept in mud, large rocks, and debris, collapsing sections and trapping workers inside.

Even in cases where tunnel entrances are accessible, rescuers must clear substantial amounts of debris before they can access deeper sections. The debris not only obscures the locations of the workers but also hampers the progress of the search efforts. Filmmaker and drone pilot Manish Maharjan, who has been volunteering with the Nepalese army, described some tunnels as being filled with mud "like toothpaste in a tube."

One hydropower project Maharjan documented was searched via drone to its end, yet no signs of life were found.