Rasuwagadhi Tunnel: 50m Mud Burial Complicates Rescue Efforts

Kathmandu: The access tunnel and underground power house of the 111-megawatt Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Limited (RHPL) is found to have been buried by mud due to the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood, leaving almost no hope for the rescue of the hydropower employees trapped in the powerhouse.

A rescue team including RHPL staff, Nepali Army and technical experts that attempted for the rescue operation through the tunnel leading to the power house on Monday morning, has unveiled the bitter fact.

According to a member of the rescue team, they first cleared the tunnel entrance buried completely by the mud and reached out within 200 meters of the partially buried tunnel towards the entrance by removing obstacles. The power house is reported to be reached only after crossing an additional 50 meters in the tunnel, which has a total length of 250 meters.

Since the 50-meter tunnel was completely buried by mud, it is estimated that the power house could also have been buried. With this latest situation, the search and rescue operation of 12 people working at the power house has become complicated.

The whereabouts of 93 people working in the RHPL have remained unknown after the flood. Those who are missing include 49 employees of the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Company, two daily-wage employees, and workers from various companies were being involved in the construction.

Four of those trapped in the project tunnel managed to get out on their own after 2 days. They were rescued by the Nepali Army via helicopter and brought to Kathmandu.