A search operation involving thermal drones and the Nepal Army has failed to locate 93 workers reported missing inside the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project tunnel. Rescue teams reached the far end of the tunnel following severe flooding caused by the Bhotekoshi River, but found no survivors or bodies. Rescuer Manish Maharjan noted that the high-intensity flood likely buried any individuals who attempted to seek shelter within the structure.
This operation is part of a broader mission to find 933 workers missing across 11 hydropower projects in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Approximately 10,000 Nepali troops, supported by specialists from India and China, are utilizing excavators and controlled blasts to clear debris from blocked tunnels. While three bodies have been recovered from other sites, many workers remain trapped under mud and sediment.
The ongoing crisis follows a devastating flash flood on August 26, triggered by a glacial collapse. The disaster has resulted in over 900 confirmed deaths and left nearly 5,000 people missing. Authorities are currently prioritizing rescue efforts at five major sites, including the Upper Trishuli complex, where an estimated 350 individuals may be trapped.
