About 46 people are believed to be trapped in a ‘room-like’ structure inside the Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant tunnel on the Nepal-Tibet border. Authorities have expressed confidence that these workers are still alive, more than a week after deadly flash floods left them trapped in an underground chamber.
Context of the Disaster
At least 639 workers are still missing from hydropower plants along Nepal’s Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. The floods, triggered by the collapse of a melting glacier on the border between Nepal and China-controlled Tibet, resulted in a surge of water, debris, and mud that devastated the region. The floods reached speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) and traveled over 60 miles, destroying entire villages, bridges, and hydropower dams.
As of now, 1,252 people have been confirmed dead, with more than 4,200 still unaccounted for. The UN Development Programme estimates that the disaster generated at least 2.2 million tonnes of debris, including building materials, rocks, and sediment.
Rescue Efforts
Rescue operations have increasingly focused on the hydropower tunnels, where authorities believe workers may have survived for over a week due to air pockets. So far, more than 270 people have been rescued from various hydropower projects. Officials stated that they believe 46 people are still alive in an underground room at the Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant. Rescue efforts are ongoing, utilizing excavators and heavy equipment.
