Nepal rescuers race to reach any survivors trapped in tunnels

Rescue teams in Nepal worked tirelessly on Wednesday to reach workers potentially trapped in hydropower tunnels following a devastating Himalayan flood that claimed over 1,200 lives. More than 4,200 people remain missing. The flood, caused by a glacier collapse near Nepal's border with China, destroyed towns and valleys in the mountainous region.

Authorities are focusing on tunnels where workers might have survived after being cut off by floodwaters and debris, with about 900 missing workers in these tunnels. A senior official stated that the chances of finding survivors elsewhere are fading. Prime Minister Balendra Shah emphasized that finding the remaining missing individuals remains the top priority.

International rescue teams from India, China, and the United States are assisting in tunnel rescue attempts. In Tibet, China's death toll rose to 21, with 541 others still missing. Chinese authorities have reopened the road to the Gyirong border crossing, allowing heavy machinery to reach the disaster zone. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported search teams deploying excavators, rescue teams, search dogs, and life-detection equipment in a narrow mountain gorge.

The disaster has disrupted 431 megawatts of electricity-generating capacity in Nepal. Children in affected areas are experiencing psychological distress, fearful and anxious after witnessing the flood's horrors.