Hürriyet Dünya1 hour agoWorld1 min readTürkiye

Two workers rescued alive in Nepal Trishuli 3A hydroelectric power plant tunnel

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Nepal army spokesman Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet reported that two workers arrived alive during the work in the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric power plant tunnel.
The disaster occurred as a result of flooding caused by the collapse of a glacier on the Nepal-Tibet border, and it is estimated that 30-40 people are still alive in the tunnels.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The collapse of a glacier on the Nepal-Tibet border has filled the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric power plant tunnels with mud and debris, trapping workers. It took 6 days for search and rescue teams to reach the tunnels.

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Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet reported that search and rescue teams reached two people alive during the work in the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric power plant tunnel, one of the areas most severely damaged by the flood. In the images broadcast by local television channels in the region, it was seen that the first worker covered in mud was taken out of the tunnel on the shoulder of a rescue worker.

It was learned that the first person rescued was Sanjay Shah, who worked as a foreman at the power plant, and was transferred to the army barracks in Trishuli. Shortly after, supervisor Kabir Maharjan was also rescued from the same tunnel. Spokesperson Basnet announced that the workers were rescued from a depth of 170 meters underground.

GLACIER CRASH TRIGGED THE DISASTER

The disaster was caused by the collapse of a melting glacier on the border of Nepal and Tibet. With the collapse of the glacier, the huge mass of water loaded with mud and debris moving through the valley made most of the facilities in the region unusable.

Photos shared by the Nepal army

The teams entered the breach opened in the tunnel on Friday morning and determined that sounds were coming from the depths of the tunnel. To the officers' call, "Don't panic, we are taking you out," the response from the inside was "Okay."

STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL IN TUNNELS

Search and rescue activities focused on these points, with the idea that there might be survivors thanks to the air gaps in the tunnels. Since the beginning of the disaster, more than 270 people have been rescued from the fields where hydroelectric projects are carried out.

Due to the dense mud layer blocking the tunnel entrance at the Upper Trishuli 3A facility, the teams could only reach the tunnels on the 6th day. Authorities estimate that 30 to 40 people may still be alive inside the tunnel.

While the army and expert teams were working non-stop to clear the rocks and mud at the tunnel entrance, the sounds on Friday morning raised hopes again.

According to local authorities' data, approximately 900 workers in 12 separate hydroelectric projects remain unaccounted for. It is estimated that nearly 500 of the missing workers are trapped in the tunnels.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

It is expected that search and rescue teams will continue their work in the tunnels and more survivors will be found.
Likely · Within days
It is estimated that an investigation into the glacier collapse and floods caused by the disaster will be initiated.
Possible · Within weeks

Open Questions

It is not known exactly how many people are still alive in the tunnels.
No detailed information was given about the health status of the surviving workers after the disaster.
It was not disclosed whether there were any precautions taken in advance to prevent glacier collapse.