A week on, rescue search grows more desperate for 100-plus Nepal hydropower workers trapped in tunnel

KATHMANDU, September 2 - As the nation entered its seventh day of desperate search efforts, hopes for survivors trapped in hydropower tunnels following devastating floods began to wane. Initially, officials believed over 100 workers could still be alive within the multiple tunnels. However, as the rescue teams faced numerous dead ends and encountered impassable mud and debris, the likelihood of finding any survivors diminished.

Shanti Mahat, a spokeswoman for Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), confirmed that foreign teams were supporting the ongoing rescue operation despite the challenging conditions. The NDRRMA reported that 639 hydropower workers were missing after a wall of mud and debris swept through the region on August 26.

The rescue teams encountered difficulties in locating entry points and encountered blocked tunnels, forcing them to stop their progress. On Monday, rescuers managed to pull three bodies from two of the tunnels, but were halted by the thick mud and sludge. Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha stated that the teams had access to all the tunnels, but the obstacles inside made it increasingly difficult to continue the search.

The Nepal Electricity Authority reported that 11 hydropower stations and one solar power station, with a combined capacity of 431.1 megawatts, had ceased operations, accounting for approximately 10 percent of the country's electricity generation capacity. Additionally, 15 power projects under construction, with a planned capacity of 470 megawatts, sustained damage due to the floods.