Kathmandu, September 1
A large number of people reported missing or out of contact at hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot following the Bhotekoshi River flood have yet to be rescued.
According to data from the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), 894 people remain unaccounted for across 11 hydropower projects.
The highest number is from the 216MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa, where 573 people remain missing. Three people were rescued from the project on Monday, but a large number of others are still out of contact.
Around 300 of those reported missing at the project are believed to be workers who were working inside tunnels. It has not yet been established whether they were inside the tunnels when the flood struck or were preparing to enter them.
Around 1,400 people are estimated to have been working at the project on the day of the flood.
Rescue efforts continue inside flooded tunnels
Efforts to rescue people trapped inside the tunnel of the 60MW Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project continued on Monday.
Rescue teams worked inside the project for 24 hours but have not yet been able to reach those believed to be trapped inside.
The Nepal Electricity Authority said teams are clearing the tunnel portal, removing water and creating an accessible route into the tunnel.
The presence of water inside the tunnel has made the rescue operation more difficult.
Rescue teams have also reached the Langtang Khola Hydropower Project, but those trapped inside the tunnel have yet to be rescued.
A team comprising personnel from the Nepal Army, Indian Army and technical experts reached the project site. The project said it would continue rescue efforts on its own on Tuesday.
Search efforts are also continuing for people missing from the 37MW Upper Trishuli-3B Hydropower Project since Sunday.
The flood swept away project structures, making the search and rescue operation more difficult. The 220kV Trishuli-3B Hub substation located alongside the project was also completely damaged, further complicating efforts to locate missing people.
93 missing from Rasuwagadhi project
A large number of people are also missing from the 111MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project.
According to the company, 93 people, including 49 employees, remain missing.
On Monday, a team led by the Nepal Army, along with engineers and drone operators, entered the tunnel to search for the missing workers.
The team used drones to inspect the inner section of the tunnel but found no people and subsequently ended the search and returned.
The search was conducted amid concerns that some workers could have been trapped near the far end of the tunnel.
Missing workers across Nuwakot projects
Several hydropower projects in Nuwakot have also reported missing workers.
According to IPPAN data, one person is missing from the 24MW Trishuli Hydropower Project and one from the 14.1MW Devighat Hydropower Project.
Another 42 people are missing from the 60MW Upper Trishuli-3A project, while 198 are missing from the 37MW Upper Trishuli-3B project.
Two people are also missing from the 15.6MW Middle Trishuli Ganga Hydropower Project.
IPPAN said the figures were based on information received from the affected projects as of Tuesday and that the number of people rescued could increase as search and rescue efforts continue.
Despite ongoing rescue operations, hundreds of people remain unaccounted for.
The flood has not only damaged major hydropower infrastructure but also left the whereabouts of hundreds of workers uncertain, making search and rescue operations particularly challenging.
