World · Singapore Bureau
Nepal deploys heavy machinery in race to rescue tunnel-trapped workers
Nepal's military has airlifted excavation equipment to a Himalayan dam construction site as rescue efforts intensify to reach hundreds of workers trapped in tunnels by catastrophic flooding. The operation comes four days after devastating floods blocked escape routes and cut off the workers from the surface.
LSN Singapore ·
Rescue teams in Nepal are battling against rising water levels in a bid to reach the trapped workers at an under-construction dam facility in the high-altitude Himalayan region. On Sunday, the military transported heavy machinery to the site by helicopter, significantly escalating the scope of the recovery operation.
The workers became stranded inside the tunnel network following catastrophic floods that swept through the construction zone four days prior. Rising water levels within the tunnels have complicated rescue efforts and forced authorities to shift strategy, moving beyond initial search and retrieval operations to deploying heavy equipment capable of clearing debris and creating alternative access routes.
The exact number of workers trapped inside remains unclear, though initial reports indicate hundreds may be affected. Rescue teams face significant challenges navigating the high-altitude terrain and contending with unpredictable water flow within the tunnel systems.
The incident has prompted Nepal's military to mobilise significant resources for what officials have characterised as an emergency operation. Teams are working to establish safe passage and assess the condition of those trapped before attempting extraction.
Details regarding the specific status of workers and expected timeline for rescue operations remain limited as rescue efforts continue.