Nepal flood rescue at hydropower tunnel continues as more than 100 remain trapped
Nepali army teams are continuing rescue operations at a hydropower project in Rasuwa, in northern Nepal, after catastrophic floods and debris flows hit the border region. Officials said more than 100 people were estimated to be trapped inside the tunnel, while soldiers were seen carrying survivors through thick mud in footage released by the prime minister's office. The operation is part of a wider emergency response across the country after the floods and landslides.
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Authorities said the army had already rescued 350 workers and local residents from the affected area, but the search for those still inside the tunnel has been complicated by damaged terrain. Two helicopters were dispatched to support the effort, although rescuers said they were having difficulty locating tunnel entrances. Local police said Nepal's death toll had reached 475 on Friday, underlining the scale of the disaster and the pressure on emergency services.
The tunnel is part of the Upper Trishuli hydropower project, one of several infrastructure sites affected by the flooding. The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of hydropower and transport links in Nepal's mountainous north, where roads and bridges can be cut off quickly by landslides, debris flows and sudden water surges. In this case, the flood followed a glacial collapse near Nepal's border with Tibet, adding to the complexity of the rescue effort.
Hydropower is a major part of Nepal's energy and development plans, making damage to such projects significant beyond the immediate rescue. When floods strike the high Himalayas, they can isolate communities, disrupt power generation and complicate access for emergency crews. The situation in Rasuwa also reflects the risks faced by workers and local residents in remote border districts where infrastructure is limited and weather-related hazards can escalate rapidly.
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The army's role has been central to the response, with soldiers moving through mud and debris to reach trapped people. Officials have not yet given a final figure for everyone inside the tunnel, and the number of survivors rescued so far remains separate from those still unaccounted for. The wider flood response is continuing as authorities assess damage to roads, bridges and hydropower projects across the affected region.
What remains unclear is the full number of people still trapped, the condition of those rescued and how much damage has been done to the hydropower site. The rescue effort is likely to continue as teams work through unstable terrain and poor access routes. Further official updates are expected as authorities try to account for missing people and restore access to the affected area.
Nepali army teams are rescuing people trapped inside a tunnel at a hydropower project in Rasuwa, in northern Nepal, after catastrophic flash floods and debris flows hit the border region. Footage released by the prime minister's office shows soldiers carrying survivors and crawling across thick mud to reach others. Officials said more than 100 people were believed to have been trapped in the same tunnel.
The rescue operation is taking place alongside wider emergency work across the country after the floods. Local police said Nepal's death toll had reached 475 on Friday, underscoring the scale of the disaster. Army helicopters were also dispatched, but officials said they faced difficulty locating tunnel entrances in the damaged area.
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The tunnel is part of the Upper Trishuli hydropower project, one of several infrastructure sites affected by the flooding. The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of hydropower and transport links in Nepal's mountainous north, where roads and bridges can be cut off quickly by landslides, debris flows and sudden water surges. In this case, the flood followed a glacial collapse near Nepal's border with Tibet, adding to the complexity of the rescue effort.
Hydropower is a major part of Nepal's energy and development plans, making damage to such projects significant beyond the immediate rescue. When floods strike the high Himalayas, they can isolate communities, disrupt power generation and complicate access for emergency crews. The situation in Rasuwa also reflects the risks faced by workers and local residents in remote border districts where infrastructure is limited and weather-related hazards can escalate rapidly.
The army's role has been central to the response, with soldiers moving through mud and debris to reach trapped people. Officials have not yet given a final figure for everyone inside the tunnel, and the number of survivors rescued so far remains separate from those still unaccounted for. The wider flood response is continuing as authorities assess damage to roads, bridges and hydropower projects across the affected region.
What remains unclear is the full number of people still trapped, the condition of those rescued and how much damage has been done to the hydropower site. The rescue effort is likely to continue as teams work through unstable terrain and poor access routes. Further official updates are expected as authorities try to account for missing people and restore access to the affected area.
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