‘Every second counts’: Families await tunnel rescue
Summary
Families are waiting anxiously for rescue crews to reach the underground powerhouse of the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project after a flash flood and avalanche left workers trapped or missing. Officials say oxygen is being pumped into the tunnel as search efforts continue, but relatives are frustrated by the slow response.
Key Points
- A flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River, triggered by a rock-and-ice avalanche, has damaged hydropower projects and left hundreds of workers unaccounted for.
- Families of missing workers gather daily at the Nepal Electricity Authority headquarters, demanding faster rescue operations.
- Rescuers have begun pumping air into the tunnel and are drilling to reach the underground powerhouse at Upper Trishuli 3A.
- Authorities say 897 people linked to 11 hydropower projects remain out of contact, while 361 people have been rescued.
