{
  "id": 4671772,
  "title": "Nepal rescuers turn attention to workers trapped in hydropower tunnels after deadly flood",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-rescuers-turn-attention-to-workers-trapped-in-hydropower-4671772",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T13:22:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/asia/2026/08/31/nepal-rescuers-turn-attention-to-workers-trapped-in-hydropower-tunnels-after-deadly-flood/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rescue efforts in Nepal are intensifying to locate hundreds of workers potentially trapped within blocked hydropower tunnels following a devastating flood last week. Nepali officials announced on Monday that the top priority is to rescue the 933 workers believed to be trapped across 11 hydropower projects, with many of them working in tunnels in the severely affected Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Images and videos shared by rescue teams depict engineers using earth-moving equipment to break through mud and rocks in the dark, attempting to reach those trapped. According to Nepalese army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet, the main challenge facing the rescue teams is the accumulation of debris, which makes it difficult to reopen the tunnels. The catastrophic flood, which struck the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, claimed at least 903 lives, according to the latest toll from Nepali authorities. Around 5,000 people remain missing, including the 933 workers trapped in the hydropower projects. At least 590 of those missing are foreign nationals from 39 countries, as reported by Nepal's foreign ministry. Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the flood as an \"unprecedented and devastating natural disaster,\" and acknowledged that compiling a complete assessment of the damage remains a significant challenge. On the Chinese side of the border, 16 people were reported dead in Gyirong County, with 546 still missing. Nepal has experienced a surge in hydropower development as it seeks to utilize its Himalayan water resources to tackle chronic power shortages and export electricity to India. The hydropower projects in Nepal's mountains rely on tunnels to transport water through the rugged terrain—the very tunnels now at the heart of the rescue operation. Nepal has stated that it does not require foreign assistance for general search and rescue operations but has sought the expertise of India and China in tunnel rescue. Rescue operations have been temporarily halted due to adverse weather conditions and concerns that a lake formed across the Nepal-China border by the disaster could trigger further flooding if it begins overflowing into Nepal's rivers.",
  "summary": "Rescue teams in Nepal have stepped up efforts to reach hundreds of workers believed to be trapped inside blocked hydropower tunnels after a deadly flood last week. Nepali officials said on Monday that the priority was reaching the 933 workers believed to be trapped across 11 hydropower projects, including many who were working in tunnels in the hard-hit districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Pictures…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Six days after Nepal flood disaster: Another Israeli reported missing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/six-days-after-nepal-flood-disaster-another-israeli-reported-missing",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:55:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Nepal rescuers turn attention to workers trapped in hydropower tunnels after deadly flood",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-rescuers-turn-attention-to-workers-trapped-in-hydropower",
        "published": "2026-08-31T13:22:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Nepal flood death toll crosses 900 as hundreds stuck in hydropower tunnels",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-flood-death-toll-crosses-900-as-hundreds-stuck-in-hydropower",
        "published": "2026-08-31T13:59:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Fortune",
        "title": "Nearly 1,000 people are missing in Nepal’s floods, and hundreds more are trapped in hydropower tunnels as flood knocks 10% of power capacity offline",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nearly-1-000-people-are-missing-in-nepals-floods-and-hundreds-more",
        "published": "2026-08-31T14:10:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Last-minute flood warning saved over 900 Nepal students, school head says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/last-minute-flood-warning-saved-over-900-nepal-students-school-head-4658512",
        "published": "2026-08-31T14:17:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "17 bodies found in UP’s Gandak; search for Nepal flood victims continues",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/17-bodies-found-in-ups-gandak-search-for-nepal-flood-victims-continues",
        "published": "2026-08-31T14:28:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Last-minute flood warning saved over 900 Nepal students, school head says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/last-minute-flood-warning-saved-over-900-nepal-students-school-head",
        "published": "2026-08-31T14:46:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Central bar packed as Hongkongers aim to raise HK$50,000 for Nepal flood relief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/central-bar-packed-as-hongkongers-aim-to-raise-hk-50-000-for-nepal",
        "published": "2026-08-31T15:35:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Peninsula Qatar",
        "title": "Qatari Aircraft arrives in Nepal carrying humanitarian aid for flood victims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/qatari-aircraft-arrives-in-nepal-carrying-humanitarian-aid-for-flood",
        "published": "2026-08-31T16:47:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Principal who saved 900 students recalls Nepal’s devastating flood",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/principal-who-saved-900-students-recalls-nepals-devastating-flood",
        "published": "2026-08-31T17:12:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Last-minute flood warning saved over 900 Nepal students, school head says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/last-minute-flood-warning-saved-over-900-nepal-students-school-head-4702191",
        "published": "2026-08-31T19:09:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}