Hundreds feared trapped in Nepal hydropower tunnels after devastating floods

Rescue operations intensified across Nepal on Sunday as authorities worked to locate hundreds of workers missing in flooded hydropower tunnels following heavy rains that triggered devastating floods in the Himalayan nation. The disaster has claimed numerous lives and destroyed critical infrastructure across affected regions.

Search and rescue teams have been deployed to multiple hydropower project sites where workers became trapped when sudden water surges swept through tunnel systems. Officials said the flooding occurred with little warning, leaving workers with minimal time to evacuate the underground passages.

The exact number of missing persons remained unclear as rescue coordinators worked to cross-reference worker rosters with those accounted for. Authorities warned that recovery efforts would be hampered by continuing adverse weather conditions and the challenging terrain of Nepal's mountainous regions.

The hydropower sector is crucial to Nepal's economy and energy needs, and the disaster has raised concerns about safety protocols at such facilities. Preliminary assessments suggested that multiple projects sustained significant damage to infrastructure and equipment.

Nepal's government activated emergency response mechanisms and sought assistance from neighboring countries for rescue equipment and expertise. Authorities urged relatives of missing workers to provide information to aid identification efforts as recovery operations continued.