Kathmandu, September 7
The Nepali Army has said search and rescue operations inside tunnels of flood-damaged hydropower projects will continue until a breakthrough is achieved.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority on Monday, Brigadier General Subash Jung Thapa said search and rescue operations inside the tunnels were being carried out intensively and would continue until the tunnels were cleared, unless the government decides to halt the operation.
The Army estimates that around 121 people may be trapped inside tunnels of hydropower projects affected by the floods. At the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, a search and rescue team, along with project representatives, has reached the powerhouse and control point and conducted searches, Thapa said.
At the Trishuli-3A project, Army personnel equipped with rescue gear have continued search operations in the powerhouse and tunnels. At Trishuli-3B, personnel entered through Audit 2 and exited through Audit 1, while work is underway to clear a route through the Audit 2 tunnel to transport excavators and other equipment.
Thapa said joint teams, including foreign personnel, were also removing mud from Chilime Hydropower and conducting further searches at the Upper Trishuli-1 project.
Based on assessments of damage to the hydropower tunnels, Thapa estimated that the floodwater and debris may have descended at a speed of around 180 km per hour.
