Search continues for missing people in hydropower tunnels following Bhotekoshi floods

Rasuwa: The Nepali Army and foreign rescue teams are continuing the search for people missing inside tunnels and debris of hydropower projects in Rasuwa following the Bhotekoshi floods.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, the Nepali Army, and Indian and Australian expert teams are continuing search operations at several hydropower projects.

Chinese, South Korean and UAE rescue teams have returned after completing their operations.

The search has been challenging due to difficult terrain, frozen water, mud and large rocks inside the tunnels.

At the 22-megawatt Chilime Hydropower Project, 24 personnel, including 13 from the Nepali Army and 11 from India, are searching a tunnel where around 70 metres of debris needs to be cleared.

Search operations are also continuing at the Upper Trishuli-1, Langtang, Trishuli-3A, Trishuli-3B and Rasuwagadhi hydropower projects.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said priority has been given to searches inside the tunnels, while preparations are also underway to search other debris.

As search and rescue operations continue, 13 hundred and 92 bodies have been recovered so far from the devastating Bhotekoshi floods.

According to Nepal Police, 12 hundred and 30 bodies have been managed after completing the necessary procedures, including DNA sampling.

Details of 13 hundred and 54 unidentified bodies have also been uploaded on the Nepal Police website.

Nepal Police said the search for more than 4 thousand missing people is continuing.