Nepal Intensifies Tunnel Rescue as More Than 100 Hydropower Workers Feared Trapped After Devastating Floods

Kathmandu, Rescue teams in Nepal are stepping up efforts to reach hydropower workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels after a catastrophic flash flood swept huge quantities of mud, rocks and debris through the country’s Himalayan river valleys.

The rescue operation has entered a critical phase as specialised teams use heavy machinery and drilling equipment to penetrate blocked tunnel sections. Authorities believe that more than 100 workers could still be alive inside several hydropower tunnels affected by the disaster.

Four Holes Drilled Into the Tunnel

Nepal’s Energy Ministry said rescuers have completed drilling four holes into the affected tunnel system.

The latest breakthrough has allowed teams to prepare for a direct entry into the underground structure, where workers are believed to have been trapped since the floods struck.

Rescuers are now preparing equipment and personnel for the next stage of the operation: entering the tunnel and searching for survivors.

The development is significant because earlier attempts were slowed by unstable conditions, heavy debris and continuing rainfall.

Trishuli Hydropower Projects at the Centre of the Operation

The most urgent rescue efforts are focused on the Trishuli 3A and Trishuli 3B hydropower sites.

These projects are located in a mountainous river corridor that was badly affected by the sudden surge of water and debris.

The floodwater carried enormous quantities of mud and rock into infrastructure located close to the river, blocking access points and creating extremely difficult conditions for rescue workers.

The underground tunnels are particularly challenging because rescuers cannot simply enter through conventional access routes without first determining whether the structures are safe.

Workers May Still Be Alive Underground

Officials believe that more than 100 workers could still be trapped inside the affected tunnels.

The possibility that survivors remain underground has increased pressure on rescue agencies to work as quickly as possible.

However, speed must be balanced against safety because entering a damaged tunnel without proper assessment could place rescuers themselves in serious danger.

Teams are therefore using drilling, excavation and technical inspection before attempting full-scale entry.

Flood Debris Created a Massive Barrier

The disaster produced conditions very different from a conventional tunnel accident.

Instead of a single collapse, the hydropower sites were affected by a massive flow of water, mud and debris.

Flood material entered or blocked sections of infrastructure, leaving rescuers facing a combination of water, sediment and unstable material.

Heavy machinery is being used to clear these obstructions and create access points.

The operation requires careful coordination because removing one section of debris can potentially affect the stability of another part of the structure.

Weather Continues to Complicate Rescue

Rainfall has repeatedly disrupted rescue operations across flood-hit areas of Nepal.

Fresh rain can increase river levels and trigger additional landslides, creating new hazards for teams working near damaged hydropower facilities.

Poor visibility has also affected helicopter operations, making it more difficult to transport equipment and personnel to remote locations.

Rescue planners therefore have to work within changing weather conditions while trying to maintain continuous progress.

Indian and Chinese Specialists Join Nepal’s Effort

Nepal has sought international technical assistance because of the complexity of the tunnel rescue.

Specialist teams from India and China have been deployed to assist Nepali authorities.

An Indian team, including doctors and technical personnel, arrived with emergency assistance and was sent toward flood-affected areas.

Chinese tunnel specialists also reached affected locations after travelling from China’s Tibet region.

Their involvement adds specialised knowledge to an operation involving underground rescue, medical support and heavy engineering.

India Provides Additional Emergency Assistance

India has also supplied humanitarian material to Nepal as the wider disaster response continues.

An Indian relief flight delivered additional emergency supplies along with specialist personnel.

Indian assistance has included medical materials, blankets, sleeping equipment, tarpaulins, hygiene supplies and other items needed by communities affected by the floods.

The support has also extended to technical assistance for tunnel rescue and forensic identification of victims.

Why Tunnel Rescue Is So Difficult

Rescuing people from a flooded or debris-filled tunnel is extremely complicated.

Before entering, rescue teams must determine whether the tunnel has enough structural stability to support personnel.

They also need to consider the possibility of trapped water, low oxygen levels, additional collapses and blocked passages.

Heavy equipment must be positioned carefully because access roads may themselves have been damaged by the flood.

These factors mean that even a relatively short distance underground can require many hours of preparation.

Rescue Teams Working Against Time

The passage of time is one of the greatest challenges.

Workers who may be trapped underground could face shortages of food, drinking water and breathable air.

At the same time, rescuers must avoid actions that could cause another collapse or flood the area further.

The drilling operation is therefore being conducted carefully, with teams attempting to create safe access points before moving deeper into the tunnel system.

Families Await Information

While technical teams work at the disaster sites, families of missing workers are waiting for information.

The wider floods have left thousands of people unaccounted for, making it difficult for authorities to immediately establish which missing people may have been at specific hydropower facilities.

Families have gathered at hospitals and government assistance centres seeking updates about relatives who have not returned home.

For many, the tunnel rescue operation represents a crucial chance to determine whether their loved ones survived.

Hydropower Sector Faces Major Disruption

The disaster has also caused significant damage to Nepal’s hydropower infrastructure.

Hydropower is an important part of Nepal’s economy and energy system, and damage to generating facilities could have consequences beyond the immediate disaster zone.

Engineers will eventually have to assess whether affected projects can be repaired or whether major reconstruction will be required.

For now, however, the priority remains human life rather than infrastructure recovery.

International Cooperation Becomes Essential

The tunnel operation demonstrates the importance of international cooperation during complex disasters.

Nepal is combining the resources of its army, police, emergency agencies and technical departments with assistance from neighbouring countries.

India and China have both provided specialist capabilities, while other international partners are contributing humanitarian assistance.

Such cooperation can increase the range of equipment and expertise available during the most difficult phase of the emergency.

Search Operation Could Enter a Decisive Stage

The completion of four drilled holes represents a potentially important step in the rescue.

If the newly created access points prove safe and usable, rescuers may be able to enter sections of the tunnel that were previously inaccessible.

Teams will then search for signs of life, assess the condition of trapped workers and determine the safest route for evacuation.

The operation could still take considerable time because the underground passages remain obstructed and potentially unstable.

Nepal Faces Multiple Rescue Challenges

The tunnel operation is only one part of Nepal’s wider disaster response.

Rescuers are simultaneously searching for missing people, evacuating stranded residents, recovering bodies and delivering supplies to communities cut off by damaged roads and bridges.

Authorities are also dealing with the destruction of transport infrastructure and the possibility of further flooding.

This has placed enormous pressure on Nepal’s emergency-response system.

Hope Remains for Trapped Workers

Despite the difficult conditions, the drilling breakthrough has provided rescuers with a new route toward the affected tunnels.

The possibility that more than 100 workers could still be alive makes the operation particularly urgent.

Every newly opened passage or access point could provide valuable information about conditions underground.

For families waiting for news, the work of the rescue teams offers a fragile but important source of hope.

What Happens Next

Rescue personnel are expected to continue preparing for direct entry into the tunnel system after completing the initial drilling work.

Heavy machinery will remain deployed to remove debris, while engineers and specialists assess structural conditions.

Medical teams are also being prepared to treat anyone who is successfully brought out.

The operation will depend heavily on weather, tunnel stability and the ability of machinery to clear the remaining obstructions.

Nepal’s tunnel rescue operation has now reached a crucial stage, with four access holes drilled and teams preparing to enter the damaged hydropower tunnels. With more than 100 workers potentially trapped underground, the coming hours could be critical for determining whether survivors can be reached and brought to safety.