Floods in Nepal and Tibet: Search underway for those trapped in hydropower tunnels
Hundreds of workers are trapped in tunnels due to floods triggered by glacial instability in Nepal and Tibet, as the death toll and number of missing people rise.
Search and rescue operations have been intensified following devastating floods triggered by glacial instability on the Nepal-Tibet border. Disaster management authorities are trying to reach hundreds of workers trapped in hydropower project tunnels, while the number of casualties and missing persons continues to rise.
Workers Trapped in Tunnels
It is estimated that about 500 of the more than 900 workers missing due to floods at hydropower projects in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts are trapped inside tunnels. Experts point out that time is running out due to declining oxygen levels in the tunnels.
Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal, stated that some workers called for help when the floods began, and those who managed to escape from the tunnels reported that many of their colleagues remained trapped inside.
Difficult Geographic Conditions and Rescue Operations
Search and rescue operations are extremely difficult due to challenging terrain, high water levels, and adverse weather conditions. With more than forty bridges destroyed, teams are relying heavily on helicopters, while India and China are sending temporary bridges to the region.
Nepalese authorities emphasized that the priority is to reach the individuals missing from the hydropower plants. Army engineers have launched blasting operations at the Upper Trishuli hydropower project to rescue the trapped workers.
Casualties and Missing Persons Toll
According to data shared by aid organizations and official authorities, the death toll in Nepal from the disaster caused by ice, rock, and mud surges is approaching one thousand, and deaths have also been reported in Tibet. Thousands of people on both sides of the border remain unaccounted for.
While the Red Cross estimates that more than 93,000 people have been affected by the disaster, it was stated that approximately 21,000 security personnel are involved in search and rescue efforts alongside civilian workers and volunteers.
International Support and Cause of the Disaster
According to Chinese state-run media, the Beijing administration has deployed more than 2,000 rescue personnel and allocated funds. Nepal has requested expert support, particularly for tunnel rescue operations, from India and China.
Authorities and experts state that the disaster stems from glacial instability as a result of the long-term effects of global warming, while poor weather conditions and fears of new floods occasionally disrupt operations.