Three people have so far been rescued alive from the tunnels of various hydropower projects where more than 800 workers and employees have been missing following the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood.
Two Nepali nationals were rescued from the tunnel of the Upper Trishuli 3A project, while one Chinese national was rescued from the Upper Trishuli 1 tunnel, bringing the total number of people rescued alive to three.
Meanwhile, 47 bodies have so far been recovered from the tunnels of the affected hydropower projects.
According to the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), rescue teams had recovered 39 bodies from the Upper Trishuli 1 project as of Monday.
Five bodies were recovered from the Chilime Hydropower Project. Six people were initially feared trapped there, but after no additional victims were found, the search operation inside the project’s tunnel has now been concluded.
One body was recovered from the Upper Trishuli 3A project. Around 40 people were believed to be trapped inside its tunnel, but the search was called off after no others were found.
Two bodies were recovered from the tunnel of the Langtang Khola Hydropower Project. The project said that 25 people were trapped inside the tunnel, but no additional victims were found despite searches of the likely locations.
According to IPPAN, 805 workers and employees from 11 hydropower projects are still missing.
How many are missing from each project?
- Upper Trishuli 1 – 439
- Rasuwagadhi – 93
- Rasuwa Bhotekoshi – 3
- Langtang – 39
- Chilime – 1
- Mailung Khola – 7
- Trishuli Hydropower Project – 3
- Devighat Hydropower Project – 1
- Upper Trishuli 3A – 39
- Upper Trishuli 3B – 178
- Middle Trishuli Ganga – 2
Search operations for missing workers and employees have been brought to an end at most of the projects.
According to the Nepal Army, search operations are continuing at Upper Trishuli 1 and Upper Trishuli 3B. At the other projects, searches have been halted after teams searched the likely locations.
