Rescue teams in Nepal are working quickly to save over 600 workers believed trapped in mud-filled tunnels at the Trishuli-3A hydropower site. The rescue operation involves using explosives, heavy machinery, and air pumps to clear the tunnels.
The floods have caused significant loss of life, with 939 deaths reported and 3,925 people missing, including 592 foreign nationals. So far, 279 individuals have been rescued from hydropower sites across Nepal, while over 11,000 people have been saved nationwide.
International assistance is crucial, as teams from India, China, South Korea, and Australia are aiding the rescue efforts. Severe flooding and landslides have hindered progress in locating the trapped workers. India has sent specialized teams for both rescue operations and victim identification, including a 19-member forensic team in Kathmandu assisting with DNA testing.
Floodwaters downstream in Chitwan have recovered nearly 300 bodies, many of whom remain unidentified. Due to a shortage of freezers, some remains are temporarily buried until they can be identified through DNA testing.
Nepal has sought help from multiple countries, including requests for freezers, DNA-testing equipment, drones, bridges, and specialized tunnel-rescue tools. A team of 18 Indian forensic experts is also assisting with DNA identification.
Meanwhile, in Tibet, Chinese state media reports 16 deaths and 546 missing people. China has denied claims that their hydropower projects caused the disaster, calling such accusations baseless. The floods are believed to have been triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, leading to widespread destruction of homes, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure across Nepal.