198 Workers Remain Missing in Upper Trishuli-3 ‘B’ Hydroelectric Project Area

September 1, Kathmandu – Due to intense flooding of the Bhote Koshi River, 198 employees and workers involved with the Upper Trishuli–3 ‘B’ Hydroelectric Project remain out of contact.

The flood on August 26 caused the loss of communication with employees, construction workers, consultants, security guards, and other personnel at the Trishuli–3 ‘B’ project site, which is under construction by Trishuli Hydroelectric Company Limited.

According to the company, of the 201 individuals unaccounted for, three have been contacted, while 198 remain missing.

The company has rescued 91 people and relocated them to safe locations. The missing include project staff and their families, civil construction workers, electromechanical and hydromechanical personnel, consultants, security guards, and internship students.

Lila Aryal, the company’s deputy director, stated that among 48 company employees assigned to the project, 21 are uncontactable. Employees on leave or away for other reasons are safely reachable.

“Out of 48 employees, 21 remain unreachable,” Aryal said. “Those who were offsite are in contact, but all others were at the site.”

All Personnel Inside the Tunnel Are Safe

The company confirmed that employees and workers inside the tunnel during the flood are safe. Although water entered the tunnel, those inside moved to higher ground and emerged after water levels dropped.

Aryal reported that the company received confirmation of their safe exit from inside the tunnel.

“Those inside the tunnel safely came out; initially water had entered, but they moved upward and exited when the water subsided,” she explained.

The project chief and lead consultant, along with the rescue team, have been stationed at the site for several days leading search and rescue efforts. Additionally, 51 personnel from the Nepali Army have reached the project site.

Search Extended 1.5 Kilometers Into Tunnel Without Findings

The rescue team, including the project chief, has inspected about 1.5 kilometers inside the tunnel. The company reported no signs of trapped individuals or other issues.

However, darkness, mud, and soil beyond that point have prevented further exploration.

“The team examined the tunnel up to 1.5 kilometers and confirmed no one was there; beyond that, darkness and muddy conditions block access,” Aryal said.

Plans are underway to transport additional equipment to intensify the search.

Excavators to be Airlifted by Helicopter

With roads and access routes blocked, necessary rescue and search equipment must be transported by helicopter. The company is preparing to send excavators and other tools to the site.

However, difficulty securing helicopter availability and scheduling has delayed equipment delivery.

“We are preparing to send an excavator and have already sent other supplies,” Aryal said. “Once the equipment arrives, excavation will begin; currently, manual labor is conducting digging.”

She added that even when the excavator was scheduled for shipment, it could not be dispatched due to helicopter management issues, which have delayed both search and excavation.

“The excavator planned to be sent yesterday didn’t go, and today it’s still in preparation; the helicopter delays have affected the timeline,” she explained.

The missing include not only company employees but also consultant company staff, civil construction workers, and laborers.

Most consultant personnel were at the project site and are missing. A few outside the area have been contacted, and one person reportedly fled and is safe.

Many contractors and workers engaged in civil construction, including Chinese nationals, were also present at the site camp during the flood, the company said.

“A significant amount of civil construction work by contractors was ongoing, and four Chinese nationals were at the camp,” Aryal noted. “Those not in the office but at the camp were likely affected.”

Following the flood, Nepali Army teams and rescue units were deployed to the site. Currently, 51 army personnel are present along with the project chief and consultant lead overseeing operations.

Despite geographic difficulties and lacking equipment, search efforts continue; manual excavation is underway until equipment arrives. The company plans to accelerate the search once excavators and other tools are available.

Although all those inside tunnels were safely evacuated, a large number of employees and workers in the camp and surrounding area remain missing, pushing the company to prioritize rescue operations.

So far, 91 people have been rescued and 3 contacted, but the status of 198 individuals remains unknown, and efforts to expedite search and rescue continue intensively.