Challenges of Tunnel Rescue Operations Explained in Nepal Disaster
An operator searching with thermal drones in the disaster zone in Nepal and China detailed the severe conditions in hydroelectric power plant tunnels.
Following flash floods triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, the obstacles faced in search and rescue operations inside hydroelectric plant tunnels in Nepal have been described by a drone operator.
Background and Scale of the Disaster
Severe flash floods occurred in the region as a result of a glacial collapse and bedrock fall in the high reaches of the Himalayas.
This disaster, affecting Tibet and Nepal, caused major damage to critical infrastructure, notably hydroelectric plants, roads, buildings, and bridges.
The Drone Operator's Efforts
Filmmaker and drone pilot Manish Maharjan joined the search and rescue operations of the Nepalese Army a day after the disaster.
Maharjan supported search operations utilizing thermal drones and microphone speakers to locate missing workers in buried hydroelectric projects.
Conditions and Obstacles in the Tunnels
Drones that succeed in rescue operations in open areas face entirely different challenges during searches inside tunnels.
Experts and operators state that the tunnels are completely filled with mud and that there are no empty spaces left inside.