{
  "id": 3895387,
  "title": "Nepal army trying to save 100 people trapped in tunnel at hydropower project",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/nepal-army-trying-to-save-100-people-trapped-in-tunnel-at-hydropower",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T04:46:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/08/1520537/nepal-army-trying-save-100-people-trapped-tunnel-hydropower-project"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KATHMANDU: Nepalese army helicopter rescue teams are striving to save approximately 100 individuals trapped within a tunnel at a hydropower project inundated by a devastating flood two days prior. The primary objective is to conduct search and rescue operations. According to Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet, two helicopters have been dispatched, but locating the tunnel's entry points proves challenging. Relief efforts are also underway to equip the rescued individuals with essential needs, Basnet added.\n\nThe Prime Minister's Office released a statement affirming that the army has been operating under challenging conditions. The team had previously successfully rescued 350 workers and locals from the tunnel, navigating extremely risky and demanding circumstances amidst adverse weather and rapid floodwaters. The army is still endeavoring to safely evacuate the remaining over 100 people trapped in the same tunnel. Specific details regarding the nationalities of those rescued or trapped were not disclosed.\n\nThe extent of destruction caused by the devastating floods in Nepal's northern border region became evident on Friday, with roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure severely damaged. Survivors recounted scenes of extraordinary devastation. At a dam project along the Trishuli valley, workers described a disaster that unfolded with terrifying speed. Dev Shrestha, who was airlifted from the site, stated that at least 400 workers were present at the time of the incident. However, more people perished than were rescued.\n\nBuddha Tamang, who survived the flood by being in a tunnel at the dam, recounted his harrowing experience. He survived as he was in the tunnel when the flood struck but managed to reach help after being marooned for over 24 hours. Meanwhile, senior officers working on the opposite side were all swept away. Another worker, Arjun Kumar Tamang, expressed the massive damage at the hydropower site, acknowledging the inability to gauge the exact number of casualties. The force of the water swept everything away, he said.\n\nThe US Geological Survey attributed the disaster to a glacial collapse that triggered a massive flow of icy debris. Climate change is causing glaciers worldwide to melt, increasing the risks of glacial lake floods and glacial collapses. The destruction severed vital links across the mountainous region, where roads and bridges are often the only available routes. The damage also affected Nepal's key hydropower sector, with several projects — both operational and under construction — severely impacted.",
  "summary": "KATHMANDU: Nepali army helicopter rescue teams are working to rescue around 100 people trapped inside a tunnel at a hydropower project swamped by a devastating flood two days earlier.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}