Nine days after devastating floods struck Nepal, rescue teams continue intensive search and rescue operations within affected tunnel systems. According to the latest reports, two individuals have been successfully rescued alive from one of the tunnels buried under debris.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that rescue efforts are primarily concentrated around four hydroelectric power stations, where the risk of entrapment remains highest.
Experts suggest that the presence of air pockets within the tunnels may have enabled the survivors to endure for an extended period. In a race against time, rescuers are actively pumping oxygen into the tunnels, hoping to locate further survivors.
The natural disaster has caused widespread destruction across the country, with preliminary estimates placing the damage to property, homes, and critical infrastructure at approximately 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees, or roughly $2.56 billion.
Rescue operations face significant logistical challenges as mud, rock, and debris have blocked tunnel entrances. To coordinate effectively, engineers and rescue personnel are utilizing a WhatsApp group comprising over 500 members to share technical data and operational updates in real-time.
Officials estimate that the fate of approximately 900 missing persons may be linked to six hydroelectric power stations. The catastrophe has severely impacted the nation's energy sector, with approximately 10 percent of the country's total electricity generation capacity currently offline.
Nepal, a nation highly susceptible to climate-induced disasters, frequently faces monsoon-related flooding and landslides. This event highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the country's mountainous infrastructure to extreme weather patterns.
