A high-stakes search operation at the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project in Nepal’s Rasuwa district has concluded without locating any of the 93 workers reported missing following severe flooding. The mission, led by the Nepali Army and supported by specialized engineering and drone teams, was initiated after rising waters in the Bhote Koshi river sparked fears that personnel had become trapped within the 111-megawatt facility's tunnel system.
The rescue teams successfully reached the far end of the tunnel, utilizing thermal imaging drones to scan areas that were otherwise inaccessible or too hazardous for human entry. According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the search efforts yielded no signs of life, leading authorities to abandon the operation and withdraw the teams to the district headquarters in Dhunche.
Broader Impact of Flooding on Nepal's Energy Infrastructure
The incident at the Rasuwagadhi site is part of a wider crisis affecting multiple energy projects across the country. As floodwaters have ravaged various regions, hundreds of workers employed at hydropower sites have been reported missing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported on Monday that the total number of individuals missing in connection with these projects has reached 933.
The scale of the disaster has complicated rescue efforts, with authorities struggling to determine the status of missing workers. In many instances, it remains unclear whether individuals are trapped within subterranean tunnels, managed to reach higher ground, or were swept away by the floodwaters. While the search at Rasuwagadhi has ended, the broader recovery mission continues elsewhere.
Ongoing Rescue and Recovery Efforts
Despite the challenges, rescue operations have successfully extracted 279 people from various hydropower tunnels across the country. Official data from the NDRRMA indicates that these survivors include 254 individuals recovered from the Upper Trishuli-1 project and 18 from the Langtang Khola site. The government continues to coordinate efforts to locate those still missing as the impact of the floods on the nation's infrastructure remains a critical concern.
