Survivors of last week's catastrophic floods in Nepal have described the terrifying moment river water crashed into hydropower tunnels, forcing them to run for their lives as the deluge chased them uphill. The death toll has now passed 1,000, officials say, with about 4,000 people still missing — many of them labourers working in the tunnel network along the Trishuli River.
Pemba Dundu Tamang, a worker constructing concrete lining at a hydropower site, told the BBC that a sudden, strong gust of air sent plywood and machinery flying just before the water hit. "I ran towards the tunnel entrance," he said. "The water was chasing behind me and I was running ahead of it." Tamang ran for about 20 minutes to escape the violent flood, which followed him uphill. He later discovered that colleagues had not made it out, and said he lost several family members who were at home.
Another worker, Itha Ghale, said the powerful gust of air almost blew them away as they sprinted. Engineers have been pumping air into the tunnels as part of a rescue operation to reach those still trapped.
Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet told AFP news agency that search-and-rescue efforts are focused on the tunnels. "Our soldiers are also deployed to collect bodies and prevent the spread of disease," he said. The army reported that 119 people were rescued on Tuesday.
Over 99% of Nepal's electricity comes from hydropower, and the vast network of tunnels under construction along the Trishuli River has become a focal point of the disaster. The exact number of workers still missing remains unclear, but officials say it could be in the hundreds.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The disaster has exposed the extreme vulnerability of Nepal's hydropower infrastructure, which provides virtually all of the country's electricity.
- With thousands still missing, the human toll could rise significantly, straining already limited rescue and recovery resources.
- The flooding underscores the growing risks of climate-exacerbated extreme weather in the Himalayan region.
Background
Nepal is prone to monsoon floods and landslides, but last week's event was described as one of the worst in recent memory. The country relies heavily on hydropower, and many tunnels are being built to expand capacity. Workers — often daily wage labourers — were inside these tunnels when water from the Trishuli River surged in, trapping many.
Key Perspectives
Survivors and families: Workers like Tamang and Ghale recount scenes of chaos and loss, with many colleagues and relatives missing or dead.
Nepal Army: Focused on search-and-rescue at the tunnels, with teams also tasked with body recovery and disease prevention.
Critics and observers: Questions are likely to emerge about the safety measures at hydropower construction sites and whether warnings were heeded before the floods.
What to Watch
- The number of confirmed missing as rescue operations continue — officials say about 4,000 are unaccounted for.
- Whether disease outbreaks follow the flooding, as the army has warned.
- Any official investigation into the safety of hydropower tunnels during extreme weather events.