At least 573 workers remain trapped or missing across 11 hydropower project sites in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts following a devastating flash flood. Government data indicates that while 361 individuals have been rescued, the total number of missing workers across these sites reached 934 by Friday evening. The workforce at these locations includes nationals from Nepal, India, China, South Korea, and Germany.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with the Nepal Army deploying 15 helicopters and specialized personnel to the affected areas. India has provided technical support, sending a team of medical and tunnel experts to conduct reconnaissance, with further specialized equipment and forensic teams expected to arrive by air. Private operators and the Nepal Mountain Guide Association are also actively working to clear debris from blocked tunnels where survivors are believed to be trapped.
Survivors described a wall of ice, rock, and water sweeping through the river system, destroying infrastructure and burying tunnel entrances under deep layers of muck. While official rescue efforts continue, experts warn that time is critical as teams struggle to navigate through debris to reach those still stranded. The broader flash flood disaster has resulted in at least 675 deaths and thousands of people reported missing across the region.
