Rescue Operations Underway in Nepal's Tunnels

A specialised tunnel search and rescue team from India, working in coordination with the Nepali Army, continues to conduct intensive rescue operations across disaster-affected hydropower tunnel sites in Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs stated on Monday. The team joined forces with the Nepali Army to undertake joint search and rescue operations at critical hydropower tunnel sites in Nepal's Chilime and Langtang regions, according to the ministry.

India's foreign ministry confirmed that the specialised team has been integrated into local operations, working side-by-side with security personnel on the ground. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X: "India's tunnel rescue team joined the Nepali Army in search & rescue operations at hydropower tunnel sites in the Chilime and Langtang areas today."

In an official statement, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu noted, "The tunnel rescue team from India worked with the Nepali Army's team to conduct search & rescue operations at hydropower tunnel sites in Chilime and Langtang area today. The team will continue to conduct search and rescue operations in close coordination with the Nepali Army." Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava reaffirmed India's commitment to supporting Nepal's disaster response.

The deployment comes as security forces intensify efforts to reach workers trapped inside flood-hit underground powerhouses and tunnels following devastating flash floods across the Trishuli basin. Equipped with specialised technical tools, the Indian experts arrived to reinforce search efforts in difficult mountain terrain and narrow gorges where rising water levels and heavy debris have hindered access to underground structures.

Tunnel Conditions and Rescue Efforts

Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General D Regmi described the situation at one of the tunnels, saying, "There are many buildings inside this tunnel, and since it is a hydro tunnel, many people also work there... The tunnel is also damaged, and floodwaters have entered the tunnel." Regmi said rescue teams began operations at around 7 AM on Tuesday to determine exactly how many people remain trapped inside. "We had reached there before the rescue team. The rescue team landed by helicopter. Now the rescue team has started entering the tunnel," he said.

The tunnel is one of several such structures built along the Bhotekoshi River, which enters Nepal from Tibet. It was this river that caused the flooding, according to Regmi. Roughly 14 kilometres from the site lies the Tibet-China border checkpoint, beyond which access is not possible.

A local resident described the disruption caused by the disaster. "Due to heavy rains, the routes have closed here. It is difficult to get here. I have heard that 25-30 people were there in the tunnel," he told ANI.

Widespread Flood Impact

The floods have wreaked havoc across several districts, with Rasuwa and Nuwakot among the severely affected areas. Several shops in a market in the Trishuli region were destroyed as the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems were hit by the flood, according to reports. Rescue operations in Bidur of Nuwakot also continue, with the army evacuating people from the region.

According to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Authority (NDRRMA), so far 279 bodies have been recovered from Chitwan, 216 from Nawalparasi East, 168 from Nawalparasi West, 65 from Gorkha, 55 from Dhading, 38 from Tanahun, and 23 from Rasuwa. The total number of missing people stands at 3,925, including 592 foreign nationals, while 11,379 people have been rescued, as per the NDRRMA.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday informed that 158 Indian citizens had been evacuated safely from Nepal so far. Unidentified bodies are being stored at 21 hospitals nationwide while authorities work on identification procedures.

The Tribune reported that the death toll in the flash floods has reached 903, according to the NDRRMA, with around 4,247 people missing and 10,451 people rescued. The highest number of bodies have been recovered in Chitwan, where 272 casualties have been reported. The missing include 25 Nepal Police personnel, 45 Nepal Army personnel, 13 Armed Police Force personnel, 15 Customs Office personnel, and three Immigration Office personnel, according to District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) data. Rasuwa has reported 865 missing persons and Nuwakot 1,548. Another 933 people are reported missing from hydropower projects, while 65 are missing from Makwanpur. The number of missing foreign nationals has been put at 65.

Rescue operations have continued, with 10,451 people rescued to date, including 252 foreigners and 45 Nepal Army personnel rescued by the Nepal Army, as reported by The Tribune.

Yesterday, rescue teams rescued 15 people from a hydropower site, including seven Indian nationals and seven Nepali nationals, according to The Tribune.