933 still trapped in hydropower project tunnels in Nepal

More than 900 workers and engineers have been trapped in the tunnels of various hydropower projects of Nepal after the devastating flood in the Himalayan border region. The operation to rescue them has been intensified. Nepal is conducting this rescue activity with the assistance of experts from China and India.

Officials of the Nepal government have informed that 933 workers and engineers are trapped in the tunnels of 11 hydropower projects of the two most affected districts Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Highest importance is now being given to their rescue.

The Nepal Army is using controlled explosions, excavators and searchlights to remove the piles of mud and stones accumulated in the tunnels. Spokesperson of the Army Rajaram Basnet told news agency Reuters that the biggest challenge is to open the tunnels and conduct the rescue operation as a huge amount of debris has accumulated.

A devastating torrent of ice, mud and stones came down after the glacier collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border last Wednesday. Due to this the news of the death of 903 people in Nepal and 16 in the Tibet part of China has been confirmed till Monday. Combining the two countries about 5,000 people are still missing.

Prime Minister of Nepal Balendra Shah referred to this flood as an ‘unprecedented and catastrophic natural disaster’ on Sunday night. He informed that more than 21,000 army members and volunteers are working in the rescue operation even in the difficult terrain.

On the other hand China has informed that 546 people are missing in Gyirong County of Tibet. Among them there are 261 foreign nationals of 23 countries. More than 2,100 rescuers have been deployed there and 220 million yuan has been allocated to the relief fund. The Red Cross has informed that about 90,000 people have been affected in the disaster.

The rescuers have warned that the artificial cavity created at the place of the glacier collapse has become larger and reached 1,74,000 square metres by Saturday evening. About 2.5 million cubic metres of water has accumulated there. If the dam breaks a new big flood may appear in the low-lying areas.

Meanwhile allegation has been raised against China of not giving the information related to rivers and glaciers on time after the disaster. Two officials of Nepal made this allegation.

However China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed on Monday that they have been regularly giving weather and water resources related information to Nepal. At the same time the country has also given the assurance of assistance to Kathmandu in dealing with the disaster.