Search and rescue operation continue at flood-hit hydel

Kathmandu: The government continues search and rescue operations in hydropower projects (hydel) affected by the recent Bhotekoshi floods in Rasuwa district.

The Nepali Army (NA) is working alongside rescue teams and experts from several countries to locate and evacuate those stranded in the disaster-hit areas. As per the NA, altogether 279 people have so far been rescued from various hydel in the affected areas.

The NA rescued two people from the Rasuwagadhi Hydel in a joint effort with Chinese rescue experts that had searched deep inside the project tunnel.

The NA personnel, along with an Indian rescue team and Nepali support staff, have been working since Monday morning to clear and open the entrances to the tunnels at the Langtang and Chilime hydel in Rasuwa. It may be noted that a devastating flash flood in Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on August 26 had wrecked havoc, damaging scores of lives and properties.

As the NA intensifies the search and rescue operation in the wake of catastrophic disaster, the NA said that it has already rescued nine people from the Mailung Khola Hydropower Project.

The largest number of rescue and evacuation has been reported from the Upper Trishuli-I Hydropower Project at 254. Search and rescue efforts are underway inside the project’s tunnel, with Nepali, Korean and Chinese teams working in tandem, said the NA.

Likewise, a 90-member team comprising personnel from the NA, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police is conducting search and rescue operations inside the tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-III A Hydropower Project in Nuwakot district.

A team from the Nepal Electricity Authority is also assisting the operation, it was told. Similarly, two people have been rescued at Upper Trishuli-III B hydel.

A total of 31 security personnel are currently engaged in search and rescue efforts at this hydel, including nine additional Army personnel recently deployed to the site. The operation began after a Chinese rescue team conducted a reconnaissance of the area, the NA mentioned.

The NA also reported that three people have been rescued from the Trishuli Hydropower Project in Nuwakot district, while four were rescued from a solar power project and five from the Devighat Hydropower Project.

RSS