Bhotekoshi-Trishuli Floods: Authorities Preparing to Declare Missing Persons Dead After Tunnel Search Concludes
Image Source, Nepali Army
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, which is coordinating recovery and relief efforts following the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods, has announced preparations to conclude the search operations soon.
Until the 21st day since the floods, rescue workers have been searching inside tunnels and underground powerhouses of various hydropower projects for people trapped by the disaster.
The authority has reported that search efforts along the riverbanks and within damaged structures such as homes, schools, and offices are nearly complete.
Rescue teams have not yet reached the underground powerhouse of the Chilime Hydropower Project in Rasuwa. The Nepali Army, in collaboration with a team of Indian experts, is currently working on creating a path inside the tunnel to access the powerhouse.
Officials involved state they expect the rescue team to reach the Chilime powerhouse by Wednesday.
Executive Director Dharma Raj Upreti of the authority has indicated the rescue operation will be concluded once tunnel searches are completed.
“The decision to conclude the tunnel search will be based on evidence indicating the operation is complete, under the leadership of the Nepali Army. Additionally, we must consider international standards for search and rescue as well as local conditions,” he said.
“No final decision has been made yet; work continues, and we expect to have results within a day or two.”
The authority chief also noted that search efforts in the hydropower tunnels might continue for a few more days.
“We are monitoring the tunnel conditions closely, holding on to some hope about the situation inside,” Upreti added.
Decision on Declaring Missing Persons Dead Expected Within Days
Image Source, RSS
Authority chief Dharma Raj Upreti disclosed that discussions are ongoing about declaring the flood-missing persons dead following the end of the search campaign.
“Talks are ongoing about declaring missing individuals deceased. Amendments to regulations are being considered to handle this differently from the usual processes,” he explained.
According to Upreti, decisions will be made based on certification from local governments, disaster management committees at the district level, and self-declarations from affected families.
“Letters from local authorities, self-declarations from families, and documents from district disaster management committees will all be considered as bases for the decision,” he stated.
He indicated a final decision would likely be reached within the next few days.
The authority reports that the number of persons missing post-flood has reached 5,130. Of the 1,395 flood fatalities, only about 100 bodies have been identified so far.
Image Source, RSS
Progress in Tunnel Search
Nepali Army spokesperson Rajaram Basnet, leading search efforts in the tunnels of hydropower projects, stated that operations will conclude based on government directives.
“We are acting under the instructions of the Government of Nepal. Search efforts are coordinated with the respective projects,” said Basnet.
“The projects will also provide necessary recommendations to the government.”
The rescue mission’s primary goal on the 21st day since the flood is to reach the powerhouse of the Chilime Hydropower Project.
Rescue workers face challenges reaching the powerhouse located about 250 meters inside the tunnel.
According to Baburaja Maharjan, Managing Director of the project, as of Tuesday, rescuers had progressed 175 meters inside the tunnel.
“We could not proceed further due to water filling the inner part of the tunnel,” he explained.
“The amount of water inside remains unclear. Since the tunnel slopes slightly upward, conditions inside may be more favorable.”
Image Source, Nepali Army
The Nepali Army is directing resources and manpower to search for missing persons in the Rasuwagadhi, Upper Trishuli 1, 3A, 3B, and Langtang Hydropower Project regions.
According to military spokesperson Basnet, although rescue personnel have reached the control room on the sixth level of the powerhouse in Rasuwagadhi, efforts continue to clear mud and debris from submerged lower levels.
Image Source, RSS
On the 11th day after the flood, two people were rescued alive from the flooded powerhouse area of Trishuli 3A. Rescue teams had dug up to approximately 40 feet to create an access route.
Following the rescue of two individuals, teams are clearing landslide debris from access routes to continue searching other sections of the powerhouse.
After flooding damaged facilities at Trishuli 3B, the Indian Army has excavated up to 30 feet while continuing their search.
Image Source, RSS
“We have located reservoirs by probing, though no other items or persons have been found,” military spokesperson Basnet said regarding Trishuli 3B.
Due to the extremely long tunnel at Upper Trishuli 1, drone searches are being conducted in areas out of human reach, according to the army.