Following the flash floods in Nepal, several people remain stuck in tunnels, with rescue operations to extract them underway. Recent visuals which have emerged from one of these sites in Rasuwa show the inside of a tunnel where at least six people remain trapped.
There are several such tunnels located in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, owing to hydropower projects at the site. At least 934 known people were reported missing in the region last night, of which at least 361 have been rescued, at the time of reporting.
However, there are 11 hydropower sites in these districts, of which five remain under construction. Each such site may have multiple tunnels, which increases chances that the actual number of people stranded may be more. Those trapped are from Nepal, India, China, South Korea, and Germany, according to survivors who spoke to HT.
{{/usCountry}}However, there are 11 hydropower sites in these districts, of which five remain under construction. Each such site may have multiple tunnels, which increases chances that the actual number of people stranded may be more. Those trapped are from Nepal, India, China, South Korea, and Germany, according to survivors who spoke to HT.
{{/usCountry}}Deep Dive
What efforts are being made to rescue people trapped in the tunnels in Nepal?
Why are there so many people reported as missing in the hydropower project areas of Nepal?
How did the recent floods in Nepal impact hydropower project operations?
Also Read | Over 900 people trapped or missing across 11 hydropower sites after Nepal floods
What do the visuals show?
The video captures visuals from inside one of these tunnels. In the particular tunnel, which is around 250 m in length, at least six people remain trapped. The team of rescuers had managed to reach at least 130 m at the time of publishing of this article.
In the video, one of the rescuers is seen standing inside the tunnel, with torch lights visible. Further, water is seen seemingly leaking from the walls, creating a rain-like effect inside the tunnel. Other photographs and videos show the team of rescuers trying to navigate their way through the tunnels, and the site where these are located.
India sends team of tunneling experts
Meanwhile, India has sent a team of tunneling experts to Nepal to aid rescue efforts, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Friday. This comes amid Nepal government denying help from foreign countries saying that its security agencies are capable of handling the rescue operation.
“The main thing is that in one place where there is a hydroelectric project, there could be possibility of people who may be a tunnel. So, we are sending a team to help with the experts in tunneling,” Jaishankar said, adding that 85 Indians were rescued in Nepal on Friday. He said 315 still remain out of contact.
Jaishankar said that India had given Nepal “a range of support offers”, which Kathmandu is evaluating. However, he said India was sending bridges which “can be quickly put together along with a team.”
“There may be some medical teams also going out there. If they require NDRF people to go, we will send them,” Jaishankar said, adding that two planes of relief materials had already been sent and a third one would be sent later in the day.
At least 626 people have been confirmed dead in Nepal following the disaster, while 2,426 people remain unaccounted for. This includes hundreds of foreign nationals from India, Malaysia, Australia and the US, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said in a post on X.
(With inputs from Prawesh Lama)