Daijiworld Media Network – Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Aug 28: Sixty-three Indian nationals were among around 350 workers and local residents rescued by the Nepal Army after they were trapped inside a hydropower tunnel following devastating flash floods in Nepal's northern region.

The rescue operation was carried out at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project in Rasuwa district, one of the areas worst affected by the floods. However, around 100 people are still feared trapped inside the tunnel, with rescue teams continuing efforts to locate and evacuate them.

The Nepal Prime Minister's Office said a Nepal Army team rescued around 350 workers and locals from the tunnel amid extremely difficult conditions caused by heavy flooding and adverse weather.

Two helicopters were deployed for the rescue operation, while specially trained military teams used technical equipment to search for those still trapped inside. Nepal Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said locating the tunnel entrances remained a major challenge due to the extensive destruction caused by the floods.

The flash floods have caused widespread devastation across Nepal's northern region bordering Tibet, damaging roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.

Workers rescued from different hydropower sites in the Trishuli valley described the scale of destruction, with several saying their colleagues were swept away by the powerful floodwaters.

A rescued worker, Dev Shrestha, said there had been around 400 workers at one site and claimed that more people had died than were rescued. Another worker, Buddha Tamang, said he survived because he was inside a tunnel when the floods struck and remained stranded for more than 24 hours before managing to escape.

Rescue operations are continuing to locate and evacuate those still trapped, while authorities are also working to provide relief supplies to the survivors.