KATHMANDU: The Nepal Army has prioritised the search and rescue of people trapped inside tunnels and powerhouses of various hydropower projects following the Bhotekoshi flood.
Army spokesperson and Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet said search efforts were continuing after the Army constructed more than a kilometre of an access road from Syafrubesi in Rasuwa to the tunnel of the Chilime Hydropower Project.
The access road had to be constructed because the narrow terrain around the Chilime project’s tunnel area made it impossible to airlift a bulldozer by helicopter.
Army rescue teams have been deployed around the clock for the operation. “There is very thick mud deposited by the flood there, and our team has been clearing the tunnel throughout the night,” Basnet said.
According to the Army, four bodies have so far been recovered from the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project.
The Army said rescue efforts are currently focused on the Trishuli-3B and Chilime hydropower projects. More than 100 Army personnel have been deployed for rescue operations at Trishuli-3B.
At the Chilime project, the Nepal Army and Indian rescue personnel are jointly continuing rescue efforts inside the tunnel.
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