933 Hydropower Workers Still Missing After Floods

Kathmandu: As many as 933 employees, workers, and engineers from flood-hit hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers remain out of contact, five days after the disaster.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), more than 600 people are believed to be stranded inside hydropower tunnels, awaiting rescue.

So far, 279 people have been rescued from the tunnels, including 254 from the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 project and 18 from the 20 MW Langtang Khola Hydropower Project. The condition of those still trapped remains unknown.

More than 500 workers and engineers at Upper Trishuli-1 are out of contact, with over 400 reportedly inside tunnels. Other major projects affected include Upper Trishuli-3B, Rasuwagadhi, Upper Trishuli-3A, and Langtang Khola.

The floods that swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors on Wednesday have caused extensive damage to hydropower projects, settlements, markets, roads, and other infrastructure. The disaster has also claimed more than 700 lives, with thousands still reported missing.