Thirteen bodies have been recovered from Edit 3 of Nepal’s Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project tunnel during a continuing search-and-rescue operation following the August 26 flash flood. The Nepal Army and the hydropower project’s joint team are still working inside the tunnel.
6 bodies were taken out on Friday afternoon. A further 7 were recovered during the subsequent search, bringing the total recovered from the tunnel to 13.
Rescue operation continues
The Nepal Army has been involved in the operation for 21-22 days. Teams have been searching inside the tunnel, including areas where bodies were found trapped in a mesh made from iron rods.
The joint operation has been intensified around the powerhouse area. Rescuers have used loaders and other equipment to remove material and continue the search. No additional bodies were recovered during the latest digging, but the operation remains in progress.
The recovery work is taking place amid the wider impact of the August 26 disaster. A flash flood triggered by an avalanche of snow and rocks near the Nepal-Tibet border devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal. Authorities say 1,610 people are still reported missing, and rescue operations continue in several locations.
Other hydropower tunnel recovery
The disaster has also affected the Chilime Hydropower Project. 5 bodies were recovered from a tunnel there on Wednesday after Indian and Nepali rescue teams cleared mud and debris to reach an underground powerhouse. No survivors were found at that location.
The 2 recovery efforts have involved clearing underground areas affected by floodwater, mud and debris. At Trishuli-1, the latest operation remains focused on the tunnel and the powerhouse area.
Road access restored
Santosh Subedi, an administrative officer at the Makawanpur District Administration Office, said traffic had resumed in both directions on Friday along the Tribhuvan and Kanti highways. The 2 routes connect Hetauda with Kathmandu.
The reopening provides restored road movement on 2 major routes while search teams continue work in areas affected by the flood. The recovery operation at Trishuli-1 remains active, with the Nepal Army and project personnel continuing their search.
Conclusion
The latest recovery brings the number of bodies found in the Trishuli-1 tunnel to 13, while the Nepal Army and hydropower project team continue searching amid a wider disaster in which 1,610 people remain missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many bodies were recovered from the Trishuli-1 tunnel?
Thirteen bodies have been recovered from Edit 3 of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project tunnel.
Q. When were the bodies recovered?
6 bodies were recovered on Friday afternoon, followed by 7 more during the continuing search.
Q. Who is conducting the rescue operation?
The Nepal Army and the Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project are carrying out the search through a joint team.
Q. Is the search operation still continuing?
Yes. Teams are continuing to search inside the tunnel and around the powerhouse area.
Q. How many people remain missing after the Nepal floods?
Authorities say 1,610 people remain missing across the affected areas.
Q. What happened at the Chilime Hydropower Project?
5 bodies were recovered from a tunnel there after Indian and Nepali rescue teams cleared mud and debris to reach an underground powerhouse.
Q. Which roads linking Hetauda and Kathmandu have reopened?
Traffic has resumed in both directions on the Tribhuvan and Kanti highways.
