Rescue operations continue amid a race against time to reach hundreds of workers believed trapped in tunnels at hydropower sites in Nepal following catastrophic flash floods last Wednesday. The flooding, triggered by a massive glacial collapse along the Nepal-China border, unleashed a torrent of ice, rock, mud, and debris that has devastated multiple districts, including Rasuwa and Nuwakot. As of Monday, the combined death toll in Nepal and China surpassed 950, with more than 4,400 people reported missing.
Authorities and private sector representatives estimate that about 900 workers remain unaccounted for across 12 damaged hydropower projects in Nepal, with around 500 believed trapped inside underground tunnels constructed to control water flow for electricity generation. The floods buried tunnel entrances in mud and debris, complicating rescue efforts. At the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, roughly 576 workers are missing, with approximately 300 feared confined within the tunnels. At the nearby Trishuli-3 project, rescue teams have been working to reach trapped individuals by descending 15 to 50 feet underground.
Nepal’s army and specialized rescue units, supported by experts from India, China, and South Korea, have been using earth-moving equipment, controlled blasting, excavation machinery, and drilling techniques to clear debris. Despite these efforts, harsh terrain, ongoing heavy rainfall, and unpredictable river flooding have hindered access, forcing reliance on helicopters and prefabricated bridges to traverse destroyed infrastructure. The swollen Trishuli River’s shifting course continues to obstruct operations, forcing rescuers to adapt continuously.
Some trapped workers reportedly managed to call for help immediately after the disaster, and survivors who escaped confirmed colleagues remained underground. However, officials express growing concern about dwindling oxygen and the availability of food and water inside the tunnels. Experts highlight that the tunnels, large enough to drive trucks through, might offer shelter, but uncertainty remains about their structural conditions and internal environment. While some hold cautious hope of survival lasting weeks if oxygen systems remain intact, others warn that the likelihood of finding survivors is diminishing as days pass.
On the Chinese side of the border, recovery efforts include rebuilding access roads to the Gyirong Port crossing, which was severely damaged and remains partially submerged. Chinese state media have highlighted the deployment of firefighters, the People’s Liberation Army, and significant government funding for relief, though detailed information about victims in Tibet remains limited. China has reported 16 deaths and 546 missing persons, including a significant number of foreigners.
Nepal’s disaster management authority has confirmed 939 deaths within its borders and listed thousands still missing, including hundreds of foreigners. The missing include tourists and pilgrims in the region, such as groups returning from Mount Kailash. Families awaiting news have gathered at overcrowded rescue centers and morgues, where DNA samples are being collected in an effort to identify bodies before burial, as freezing facilities remain insufficient.
The disaster’s cause—a massive rockfall triggered by the collapse of bedrock beneath a glacier—registered as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event, leading to rivers swelling rapidly downstream through Nepal and Tibet. The overwhelming scale of the destruction has strained Nepal’s disaster response capacity. While the government initially appeared cautious about accepting foreign rescue teams—reflecting past experiences with chaotic relief efforts after the 2015 earthquake—it has since sought specialized assistance for technical operations such as tunnel rescue and forensic analysis.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah acknowledged the complex challenges posed by weather, terrain, and ongoing risks, emphasizing a determined approach to saving lives. With nearly 21,000 security personnel and volunteers involved, response teams continue to face logistical hurdles. Meanwhile, local communities have faced widespread displacement, with thousands left homeless by the floodwaters.
International support has been mobilized, including assistance from India, China, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, which has dispatched a rapid deployment team to assist its nationals and committed financial aid. Nonetheless, experts and aid workers stress the need for improved disaster preparedness and coordination, noting persistent vulnerabilities in Nepal’s early warning systems, infrastructure resilience, and crisis management capabilities amid a context of increasing climate-related geological instability in mountainous regions.