Kathmandu [Nepal], August 30 – 537 employees and workers from nine hydropower projects in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts remain unaccounted for following the devastating flash flood that swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors on August 26.
According to the Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN), 361 of the 898 employees and workers reported missing from the nine projects have been rescued while 537 remain out of contact.
The largest number of missing workers is from the 216-MW Upper Trishuli-I Hydropower Project where around 300 people are still believed to be trapped inside a tunnel. Search operations are continuing while 254 people have been rescued so far.
At the 111-MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, 93 people remain unaccounted for. Four workers from the Rasuwa Bhotekoshi Hydroelectric Plant are also missing.
Similarly eight people remain missing from Chilime Hydropower, seven from Mailung Khola Hydropower, one each from Trishuli Hydropower and Devighat Hydropower and 42 from Upper Trishuli-III A.
At Upper Trishuli-III B, 91 of the 122 people reported missing have been rescued safely.
Meanwhile, 18 of 42 workers at the Langtang Khola Hydropower Project have been rescued while two people remain unaccounted for from the Middle Trishuli Ganga Hydropower Project.
Search and rescue operations are continuing at several project sites amid difficult conditions caused by the floods.
