The catastrophic flash floods that struck Nepal’s Trishuli River region six days ago have left a trail of devastation, with hundreds of workers still unaccounted for in a vast network of mud-filled tunnels. The official death toll has risen to 939 while the number of missing persons stands at 3,925 including 592 foreign nationals, according to Nepal’s disaster management authority.
The situation is particularly dire for the families of 639 workers believed to be trapped in the tunnels of hydropower plants. Rescue teams, comprising international experts from China, India, Korea, and Australia, are working tirelessly to reach the victims before time runs out.
The race against time in Nepal’s hydropower tunnels
Rescuers have been using explosives to blast into the hillside and pumping air into the tunnels, fearing that the window to find survivors is rapidly closing. Families of the missing workers are clinging to hope, with some expressing a 50% hope that their loved ones are still alive due to the presence of oxygen systems inside the tunnels.
Anushila Bhandari, the wife of missing engineer Aurus Bhandari, shared her anguish with BBC Nepali, saying, “I wish we could find him. I wish he would come home.” Similarly, Sita Pandey, whose husband was working in one of the plants, told Nepalese daily Kantipur, “I still have a 50% hope that he is alive because there is an oxygen system inside.”
The rescue operation has been intensified with the Nepali Army rescuing 109 people on Monday alone. However, the slow progress has left families on edge, with Jiban Khadka, whose relative is trapped inside a plant, telling Kantipur, “The longer it takes, the more our hope dies. This operation must move much faster because every second is meaningful to us.”
The impact of climate change on Nepal’s hydropower projects
Nepal’s reliance on hydropower has made the country particularly vulnerable to such disasters. The recent floods have damaged at least 11 hydropower projects, either completed or under construction. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has described the disaster as a “major disaster for the region, triggered by an avalanche of ice and rock in the Himalayas.”
Shah emphasized that the event signals the escalating risks the Himalayan region faces due to climate change. He stated that “the time has come for Nepal to forcefully raise the issue of climate-induced disasters with the international community.” The global warming has accelerated the melting of the Himalayas’ glaciers, and focused studies in the coming days may reveal the extent of climate change’s role in this devastating flood.
The impact of the floods will be felt for much longer than just a few weeks or months, according to Srijana Gurung, the acting Nepal director of the global humanitarian charity Plan International. She described witnessing the constant sound of helicopters and the strong smell of debris in the Nuwakot district, where families are waiting to hear from their loved ones.
International aid and local efforts in the aftermath
The international community has rallied to support Nepal in the wake of the disaster. Countries such as the UK, Canada, the US, India, the UAE, Qatar, Japan, Switzerland, and Australia have provided emergency relief funding and search and rescue teams. The UK has pledged £5 million, Canada $5 million (£3.69 million), and the US over $3.6 million (£2.66 million) in humanitarian assistance.
Locals have also joined the clean-up efforts, with volunteers helping to clear mud and sludge from schools and hospitals in the Dhading district, one of the worst-hit areas. The Nepali Army has deployed 8,900 personnel across affected areas to search for the injured, clear obstructed roads, and provide emergency medical treatment.
As the search for survivors continues, the world watches and hopes for the safe return of those still trapped in the tunnels. The heartbreaking stories of the families and the monumental efforts of the rescuers highlight the resilience and determination of the people of Nepal in the face of adversity.
