Kathmandu, Aug. 30: A total of 11 hydel projects in Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers suffered damages in the August 26 devastating flash floods, with people trapped in the projects being rescued.
Likewise, efforts are ongoing for four days to rescue those trapped in the tunnels and the Nepali Army personnel are deployed for this. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said that 279 people were rescued as of Sunday.
Giriraj Adhikari, the Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Water and Energy Development Company, the developer of Upper Trishuli-1, said that more than 250 workers were rescued from the tunnel area and almost 300 people are still believed to have trapped in the tunnel.
“Three audit tunnels are there in 10-km-long tunnel. A team of workers including the Chinese nationals is trapped there. We are waiting for their rescue,” he added.
Adhikari stated that a Chinese team has been dropped and a team of eight South Korean nationals has also made an aerial inspection.
According to the Nepali Army, a Chinese team carried out a search operation up to three kilometres inside the tunnel.
Likewise, 42 workers from Upper Trishuli 3 ‘A’ project are out of contact.
Acting Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Madan Timsina, said that currently the rescue operations are underway.
A large number of team has been deployed for the rescue operations there and a whole was pointed at the crown head of the tunnel.
Similarly, rescue operations have been carrying out in the Upper Trishuli 3 ‘B’ project in Nuwakot district too where a Chinese experts’ team has worked in coordination with the Nepali Army.
Furthermore, preparations for rescue operations have advanced in Mailungkhola, Chilime and Langtang hydel projects in Rasuwa district.
