KATHMANDU: A rescue team found no one inside the tunnel of the flood-affected Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project (RHPL) in Rasuwa, while the fate of 93 people working on the project remains unclear.
“The rescue team led by the Nepali Army has returned after searching the tunnel of the 111-MW flood-affected project in Rasuwa and finding no people inside,” the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said on Monday.
Nepal (IPPAN), a representative association of private-sector power developers, a total of 897 people employed at 11 hydropower projects in the flood-affected districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot remain out of contact, according to the Independent Power Producers’ Association. Seven Indian and 15 Chinese nationals who were trapped in hydropower projects were rescued on Sunday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
“However, no signs of human presence were found during the operation,” the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said. After confirming that no one was inside the tunnel, the rescue team concluded the search operation and returned to Dhunche in Rasuwa.
Earlier reporting noted: The Prime Minister’s Secretariat said on Monday that the Army-led team had returned after searching the tunnel of the 111-megawatt Rasuwagadhi project. Earlier reporting noted: Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said on Monday that 933 people associated with hydropower projects were missing.
“The tunnel rescue team from India worked with the Nepali Army’s team to conduct search and rescue operations at hydropower tunnel sites in the Chilime and Langtang areas today,” the embassy said, adding that the team would continue search and rescue operations in close coordination with the Nepali Army. At the request of the Nepali government, Indian and Chinese tunnel technicians arrived in Nepal and have been engaged in rescue efforts to evacuate people trapped inside hydropower tunnels. An Indian tunnel rescue team has continued search and rescue operations to save people trapped inside tunnels at different hydropower projects following the devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River last week, the Indian Embassy said on Monday.
