Nepal hydropower worker describes harrowing escape from tunnel flood

A worker at a Nepali hydropower plant has described a terrifying 20-minute ordeal of being pursued by surging river water through a tunnel, providing a vivid account of the conditions that have claimed numerous lives in recent days. The survivor's testimony underscores the extreme hazards faced by those trapped when water suddenly inundated underground facilities, leaving little time for escape.

The incident occurred amid major rescue operations that remain underway at multiple hydroelectric projects across Nepal. The flooding has disrupted essential infrastructure and left workers stranded in dangerous conditions, with rescue teams facing significant challenges in accessing affected areas and retrieving those still missing.

Nepal's death toll from the recent flooding and related disasters has surpassed 1,000, making it one of the deadliest weather-related catastrophes in the region in recent years. The scale of casualties has strained emergency response resources as authorities coordinate search and rescue efforts across multiple sites.

Investigations into the flooding at hydropower facilities are ongoing, with authorities examining whether warning systems functioned adequately and whether safety protocols were properly implemented. The incidents have raised questions about the preparedness of infrastructure projects in the face of extreme weather events that are becoming increasingly common in the region.