China has dispatched tunnel specialists to Nepal to support a complex rescue operation at a flood-hit hydropower project, as rescuers race to reach workers trapped underground after catastrophic flooding.
China has sent five tunnel experts from Tibet to Nepal to assist with rescue operations following the devastating floods that swept through parts of the Himalayan nation, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The team was dispatched at the request of the Nepalese government and flown by helicopter to a hydropower project affected by the disaster.
The specialists have been brought in to help tackle one of the most challenging aspects of the ongoing rescue effort, reaching people trapped inside tunnels at a hydropower facility.
The move comes as Nepal seeks specialised technical assistance for difficult rescue operations after catastrophic flooding and mudslides struck areas near the Nepal-China border. The disaster has severely damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure, making access to some affected locations extremely difficult.
More than 100 feared trapped inside hydropower tunnels
Rescue teams are focusing on tunnels associated with the Upper Trishuli 3-B hydropower project, where more than 100 people are believed to be trapped following the floods. A Chinese expert team has joined Nepali rescuers to assess conditions inside the tunnel and determine the safest way to reach those trapped.
The operation is particularly challenging because floodwaters, mud and debris have blocked access to underground sections. Rescue teams must first establish the condition of the tunnel and assess whether it is structurally safe before attempting to enter.
Chinese rescue teams have also been operating on the Tibet side of the border, where the Gyirong area suffered extensive destruction. A separate Chinese engineering and rescue team has been using reconnaissance drones, portable satellite stations and mobile surveillance equipment to survey affected areas.
Nepal seeks specialised help as death toll and missing numbers rise
The tunnel operation is unfolding against the backdrop of one of Nepal’s worst recent natural disasters. A glacial collapse triggered massive flooding and mudslides along the Himalayan border region, destroying settlements and critical infrastructure.
Nepal has resumed search-and-rescue operations after a temporary suspension caused by dangerous conditions, while authorities continue to deal with a rapidly changing situation. The latest reports put the combined death toll in Nepal and Tibet at more than 600, with nearly 3,000 people still missing.
Nepal has indicated that its most urgent need is specialised technical assistance rather than large foreign search-and-rescue contingents. The country has sought expertise in areas including tunnel rescue, body identification and infrastructure restoration. India and China have both assisted as rescue and relief operations continue.
With inputs from agencies
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