Nepal Flood Leaves Hundreds Missing at Hydropower Projects
Hundreds of hydropower workers remain unaccounted for in Nepal’s Trishuli corridor, three days after a catastrophic Bhotekoshi flood swept through the region, destroying roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. Rescue teams, including the Nepali Army, are facing major challenges reaching workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels and underground powerhouses, with some entrances buried under thick mud and debris. The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), says 934 people linked to 11 hydropower projects remain unaccounted for, while the Energy Ministry has reported that more than 1,000 employees in affected projects are currently out of contact. The Nepali Army has rescued 254 people from the 216MW Upper Trishuli-1 project and 18 from the 20MW Langtang Khola project, while hundreds more have been rescued from other affected sites. However, workers at projects including Chilime, Rasuwagadhi, Upper Trishuli-3A and Upper Trishuli-3B are still awaiting help. At Rasuwagadhi alone, dozens of employees remain out of contact, with some believed to be inside an underground powerhouse. Officials say access is the biggest obstacle, as bridges and roads have been washed away and several facilities are buried under flood debris. The Army is continuing operations at 19 hydropower tunnels, using excavation equipment and specialised teams to clear blocked entrances. The disaster has also knocked out around 430MW of generating capacity from hydropower projects along the corridor and caused damage estimated at billions of rupees. Authorities say their immediate priority remains locating missing workers, rescuing survivors and restoring critical infrastructure as rescue efforts continue.
