World · Singapore Bureau
Nepal races to rescue hundreds trapped in hydropower tunnels after floods
Rescue teams in Nepal are working around the clock to reach hundreds of people believed trapped inside blocked hydropower project tunnels following devastating floods last week. The operation involves assistance from Chinese and Indian experts as the country grapples with widespread destruction across valley communities.
LSN Singapore ·
KATHMANDU — Hundreds of people remain trapped inside hydropower tunnels in Nepal after last week's catastrophic flooding blocked the primary access routes, prompting an intensive overnight rescue operation involving regional partners.
Nepal's rescue teams have been joined by specialists from China and India in efforts to reach the trapped individuals and establish safe passage from the blocked tunnel systems. The flooding, which struck the Himalayan region last week, has left a trail of destruction across Nepal's valley towns and villages, with impacts also reported across the border in China.
The incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in Nepal's hydropower infrastructure, with the tunnels becoming death traps as floodwaters surged through the facilities. The rescue effort represents a coordinated regional response to the crisis, with teams working continuously to locate survivors and assess conditions within the blocked sections.
Nepal has faced multiple natural disasters in recent years, and this latest flooding has tested both the country's emergency response capacity and its hydropower sector's preparedness for extreme weather events. Authorities have not yet provided a timeline for when all trapped individuals might be evacuated from the tunnels.