A glacial collapse triggered catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border, destroying infrastructure and trapping workers in multiple hydropower projects. Nine days after the disaster, rescue teams successfully extracted two workers, Sanjay Shah and Kabir Maharajan, from a flooded tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower facility on Friday.
Arnold Dix, an Australian engineer and geologist advising on the rescue operation, characterized the extraction as one of the most significant rescue efforts of the current century. The operation presented extraordinary challenges, including locating the correct tunnel entrance, removing debris including vehicle-sized rocks using controlled explosives, and draining massive volumes of water that had filled the tunnel. Rescuers reported hearing a faint voice approximately 50 metres into the tunnel before successfully reaching the trapped workers.
The scale of the disaster distinguishes it from previous incidents Dix has worked on, with nearly 30 hydropower projects reported damaged across the region. Approximately 40 additional workers are believed trapped within Trishuli 3A, prompting ongoing rescue efforts targeting what rescuers term the “Goldilocks zone” at the upper levels of the 11-storey power station. The rescue operation carries significant risks for team members, including potential drowning from water breaches or from water rising behind rescue teams operating below flood-plain level.
Casualty figures reported through September 5 indicate at least 1,294 confirmed deaths in Nepal with more than 5,000 missing, while China reported 31 deaths and 531 missing persons. More than 270 people have been rescued from various hydropower projects to date. Australia deployed 38 government officials, disaster response specialists, and humanitarian workers to assist with search-and-rescue operations and relief efforts, with additional specialists arriving throughout the week.
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