India’s tunnel rescue teams make headway at two Nepal hydropower sites

India’s specialised tunnel rescue teams have made progress at two hydropower sites in flood-hit Nepal, establishing a foothold inside a tunnel at Chilime and probing up to 185 metres underground at Langtang, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said on Monday.

The teams are working alongside the Nepali Army despite difficult weather and challenging access conditions as rescue operations continue at hydropower projects hit by the devastating flash floods of August 26.

"Despite inclement weather and difficult access conditions at Chilime, the team successfully established foothold at the tunnel and set up safety ropes inside tunnel," Srivastava said in a post on X.


At Langtang, the Indian team, working with Nepali forces, was able to probe up to 185 metres inside the tunnel. Rescue operations at both sites will continue on Tuesday, he said.

Srivastava met the Indian technical teams deployed for the tunnel rescue operations on Monday and was briefed on their efforts at the Chilime and Langtang sites.

India, China teams aid search for missing workers

India has deployed specialised rescue and technical teams to assist Nepal following the flash floods that swept through northern and central parts of the country on August 26, killing hundreds, leaving thousands missing and damaging homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.

Expert teams from India and China are assisting Nepali rescue personnel in searching for workers and employees who remain unaccounted for at several hydropower project sites, with many believed to be trapped inside tunnels.

Srivastava also visited the Nepali Army base at Bidur in Nuwakot, which is being used as a staging post for rescue and relief operations in Rasuwa.

He met Nepal Home Minister Sudan Gurung and Energy and Water Resources Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and discussed India's assistance for Nepal's ongoing rescue and relief efforts.

158 Indians rescued from flood-hit areas

The Ministry of External Affairs said 158 Indian nationals had been rescued from flood-affected areas in Nepal as of Monday.

A specialised Indian forensics team was also continuing its work in Kathmandu in coordination with the Nepal Police's Forensic Science Laboratory. The teams discussed ways to optimise forensic protocols and documentation, the MEA said.

The rescue operations come as Nepal continues to assess the extensive damage caused by the floods, with teams working across difficult terrain to locate those still missing and reach isolated hydropower sites.