Kathmandu, September 2
Nepali Army officials say it could take three to four months to clear the mud, rocks, and other debris that has piled up inside tunnels following the devastating flood and landslide at Bhotekoshi in Rasuwa, to move rescue and search operations forward.
Ujjwal Bikram Rana, who is leading the Field Operations Command north of Dhunche, said the situation inside the tunnels is extremely complex, and clearing all the material for a smooth rescue within just two to three days is not realistic.
Based on the volume and condition of material lodged inside the tunnel, he estimated it could take three to four months to remove it completely.
“I don’t see any possibility of clearing everything from inside the tunnel within two or three days. I’ve seen for myself that it may not even be possible within three to four months,” he said.
According to him, there are four hydropower project tunnels within his area of responsibility. Rescue and search work at the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project tunnel has been halted after proving too difficult to continue. He said the decision was made in coordination with the project’s engineers, since the lower section of the tunnel is filled with water and debris and there is no longer a realistic chance of finding anyone alive there.
At the Chilime project tunnel, however, search and rescue efforts are continuing, with teams still deployed in the hope that survivors may be found.
The army had also entered about 64 meters into the tunnel toward Langtang, but officials said further progress became difficult as the tunnel narrowed to the point where it was hard even for a person to pass through. With only about two feet of clearance in places, requiring rescuers to crawl, the risk involved has increased significantly.
Rescue efforts resumed today at Tunnel No. 216 as well. Despite five earlier attempts to enter, teams were unable to proceed due to debris piled up to chest height inside.
The army says Timure and Syaphrubesi are the areas hit hardest by the flood and landslide. Officials reported that river flow caused damage up to five meters high in some areas, with more than half of the Syaphrubesi settlement washed away. Timure also suffered major damage.
With roads and other communication links severed, air rescue currently remains the primary means of reaching the affected areas.
“There’s a road problem; the river has swept away all the roads, which is why heavy machinery couldn’t be brought in. But even if machinery does get through, given the state of the material lodged inside the tunnel, this isn’t something that can be finished in two or three days,” he said.
