Engineers in a WhatsApp group guide Nepal’s flood rescue efforts

A WhatsApp group of engineers is proving to be an invaluable resource in the ongoing rescue efforts following a devastating flash flood in Nepal's Trishuli valley. The group was established by engineers before the flood hit on August 26, and it has since become a crucial aid alongside helicopters and heavy machinery in the search for survivors.

Authorities hope that among the 900 people reported missing from six hydropower plants, some may have survived in tunnels, as many of the plants were either under construction or had personnel working or fleeing into the tunnels during the disaster.

Rescue workers are struggling to navigate the flood-deposited mud and debris covering the tunnels, which have altered their structure and become difficult to locate. In response to this challenge, the engineers in the group have been providing crucial guidance and layout drawings to support the rescue operation. For instance, when a government official sought layout drawings for the Chilime hydropower plant, a member of the group promptly sent them over, along with details about the access tunnels.

One member of the group has sent over layout drawings for the Chilime plant, hoping to help rescue teams navigate the damage left by the flood. However, despite these efforts, no survivors have been found yet in the tunnels at the Chilime or other plants damaged by the flood. In Chilime, flood debris rose to the ceiling of a tunnel entrance, while at Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant, rescue workers reached 250 meters into a tunnel before it became blocked.

The flood has destroyed 10% of Nepal's generation capacity, leaving more than 4,000 people still missing. The engineers' WhatsApp group has become a lifeline for the rescue effort, providing vital information and support to the teams searching for survivors in the damaged hydropower plants.