‘Workers are still alive in Nepal hydropower plant’

By Sohail Khan 2 September 2026, 3:29 pm

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Business News›News›International›World News›Good chance that trapped workers are still alive in Nepal hydropower plant, official says

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Good chance that trapped workers are still alive in Nepal hydropower plant, official says
Synopsis

Rescue efforts continue for workers trapped in Nepal's Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant. Officials are confident many of the forty-six trapped workers are alive. Authorities have rescued 279 people from flooded hydropower projects. Over 639 individuals remain missing after the devastating glacial collapse. International teams are assisting Nepal in the extensive search operations.

Nepal authorities issued a fresh flood warning after water levels rose significantly — Good chance that trapped workers are still alive in Nepal hydropower plant, official says

There is a high chance that dozens of workers may be found alive after a week trapped in an underground chamber at Nepal's Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant following deadly flash floods, a Nepal Electricity Authority official said on Wednesday.

"In Rasuwagadhi, we think 46 people are trapped in a room-like structure in the tunnel," Amhsu Kiran Shahi, a board member of ‌the Nepal ⁠Electricity Authority, ⁠told Reuters.

Also read: Four Indian-origin Americans missing after Nepal-Tibet floods; Sewa International releases USD 100K in relief drive

"We are very confident that they must be alive after one week because … they have food and water over there in the building."

So far, Nepali authorities have rescued 279 people from hydropower projects swamped by the unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud and debris, triggered by a glacial collapse near the country's border with China.

But at least 639 more were still missing, some of whom are believed to be trapped in tunnels ⁠linked to ‌the hydropower projects, where Nepali, Indian and Chinese rescue teams are digging to find survivors.

'GOING IN AGAIN'

The Rasuwagadhi Hydroelectric Project, a 111-megawatt facility located in the ⁠hard-hit Rasuwa district, lies in a mountain valley some 5 km (3.11 miles) away from Nepal's border with China.

"This is the only project where it's possible to walk through the tunnel. The army tried doing that three days ago, but they didn't find the room," Shahi said. "We are going in again."

Rescuers are also looking for survivors believed to be trapped inside tunnels at other locations, where powerhouses have spaces and rooms for people to stay, according to Nepal's army spokesman Raja ‌Ram Basnet.

At the Upper Trishuli 3A facility, another project hit by the floods, it took rescue workers almost six days to find the tunnels because of thick mud, Shahi said.

"We ⁠are expecting (survivors) in there because we are told there is a dry space inside. We are trying to break into the tunnel now," he said.

Also read: Sonu sood arrives in Kathmandu with relief supplies for Nepal flood survivors: 'Will try to bring people's lives back on track'

"We are using every technology available in Nepal right now, and we are taking help from the Indians, Chinese, Koreans. We have experts from Australia too."

The disaster created at least 2.2 million tons of debris, according to a preliminary estimate by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including parts of buildings, rocks, and sediment, the equivalent of six Empire State buildings.

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