Progress Made in Search and Rescue Operations at Hydropower Projects Throughout the Day

After the Bhote Koshi flood, 919 employees of 11 hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts remain missing. A joint team comprising the Nepalese Army, Armed Police Force, and project representatives is conducting search and rescue operations at the Rasuwagadhi, Chilime, Langtang, and Trishuli projects. The Nepalese Army reported that a body was found inside the cable tunnel at the Rasuwagadhi Bhote Koshi Hydropower Project using drone surveillance.

The flood in the Bhote Koshi River has caused employees at various hydropower projects to become unreachable, prompting ongoing search and rescue efforts. On Tuesday, the Nepalese Army deployed joint teams to Rasuwa and Nuwakot projects to intensify search operations. At the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, teams from the army and project staff reached the powerhouse and control point to conduct the search.

The joint team confirmed that a body was detected via drone inside the cable tunnel located in Rong at the Rasuwagadhi Bhote Koshi Hydropower Project. Search and rescue operations continue at the Langtang Hydropower Project. At the Chilime Hydropower Project, teams are conducting tunnel searches. A team including foreign technicians has constructed a navigable path using four large pipes, each approximately 6 meters long.

At the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, a team with foreign technicians has entered approximately 400 meters into the main access tunnel to carry out search efforts. At the Trishuli-3 ‘A’ Hydropower Project, a joint team consisting of 34 Nepalese Army personnel, 4 Armed Police Force members, and project representatives is conducting searches in the powerhouse and tunnels. Meanwhile, at the Upper Trishuli-3 ‘B’ project, the Nepalese Army and project representatives have been using three excavators to dig to a depth of about 23 feet around the office and residential areas; however, no missing individuals have been found to date.