Nepal rescuers race to reach any survivors trapped in tunnels a week after disaster
“We are very confident that there is life in there,” Nepal Electricity Authority board member Amshu Kiran Shahi says of trapped workers in hydropower tunnels.
A week after a catastrophic Himalayan flood claimed over 1,200 lives, rescue teams in Nepal are making desperate efforts to locate any survivors trapped in the tunnels of hydropower projects. The flood, caused by a glacier collapse near Nepal's border with China, devastated numerous towns and valleys, leaving more than 4,200 people missing.
Amshu Kiran Shahi, a board member of the Nepal Electricity Authority, expressed confidence that there might be survivors in the tunnels, stating that they are "very confident" about the possibility of life being present due to provisions of food and water within the buildings. However, authorities warn that the likelihood of finding survivors elsewhere is diminishing.
Phanindra Paudel, a senior official at Nepal's National Emergency Operation Center, emphasized the decreasing hope of finding survivors, stating, "We pray and are hopeful. Hope is hope." The Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, reiterated the government's commitment to continuing the search and rescue operations, with the priority being to locate the missing and provide support to those affected.
Major rescue operations are underway or planned at four hydropower projects, with the strongest prospects of finding survivors at two sites where about 90 people are missing. These sites contain chambers with air supplies, and rescuers are attempting to reach around 900 missing workers. Specialized rescue teams from India, China, and the United States are involved in the tunnel rescue attempts.
Residents in affected areas, such as Nuwakot and Rasuwa, are grappling with psychological distress following the disaster, as reported by Save the Children. Many children show signs of fear and anxiety due to witnessing the widespread destruction and loss of loved ones. The government is working to restore power, telecommunications, and transport links, with 95% of telecom services restored by Tuesday.
Overall, the disaster marks one of the most significant challenges faced by human civilization, as acknowledged by Prime Minister Shah.
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