Rescue efforts are continuing in Nepal for 46 workers believed to be trapped inside an underground chamber at the Rasuwagadhi hydropower project, with officials expressing hope that they may still be alive.
Amhsu Kiran Shahi, a board member of the Nepal Electricity Authority, said the workers are believed to be inside a room-like structure within the tunnel. He said rescuers have reason to believe the workers have access to food and water.
“We are very confident that they must be alive,” Shahi said, adding that the chamber is believed to be dry and could have provided protection from the floodwaters.
The rescue operation at the 111-megawatt Rasuwagadhi Hydroelectric Project has proved difficult. Nepal Army personnel attempted to enter the tunnel several days ago but could not locate the chamber where the workers are believed to be trapped.
Authorities are now preparing another attempt to reach the workers. Rescue teams are trying to break through sections of the tunnel while using available technology to locate the suspected chamber.
Nepal has also sought international assistance for the operation. Experts and support have reportedly been made available from India, China, South Korea and Australia as rescue teams work to reach the trapped workers.
Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said rescue personnel are also searching for people who may be trapped in tunnels at other locations. Some underground areas around powerhouses are believed to have spaces where workers can take shelter.
The rescue effort comes as Nepal continues to deal with the devastating impact of flash floods that struck several areas last week. The disaster followed a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, triggering severe flooding along the Bhotekoshi River.
According to figures cited by The Kathmandu Post, Nepal’s death toll had risen to 1,127 by Wednesday. Authorities were continuing search operations for thousands of people reported missing, while more than 6,500 people had been rescued from affected areas.
The situation at Rasuwagadhi remains uncertain, but officials are focusing on the possibility that the trapped workers have survived inside the protected chamber. Rescue teams are expected to continue efforts until they can reach the suspected location and establish contact with those inside.
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