Rasuwa [Nepal], Sept 15 – Joint Indian and Nepali rescue teams are facing fresh obstacles as they clear the flood-blocked tunnel of the Chilime Hydropower Project in Rasuwa and work to reach the underground powerhouse.
The teams are using excavators, loaders and mud pumps to clear the remaining blocked sections of the tunnel, where water continues to flow in and large boulders have obstructed their progress.
India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava said in a post on X that the teams were working together to clear the remaining portion of the tunnel.
“There were unexpected challenges including inflow of water from inside the tunnel and presence of big boulders. The teams are using mud pumps to dewater the area. It is expected that clearing work will continue tomorrow to reach the powerhouse,” Srivastava said.
The rescue operation was launched after the August 26 flash floods and mudslides deposited heavy slush, rocks and water inside the tunnel complex.
The joint team is now working to remove the debris and drain accumulated water from the remaining section leading to the powerhouse.
The operation comes as the floods have caused extensive damage to Nepal’s hydropower infrastructure and reduced domestic electricity generation capacity.
India has approved additional electricity exports to Nepal in response to the reduced generation capacity. The Indian Power Ministry has approved exports of up to 600 MW through the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar 400 kV transmission line and up to 54 MW through the Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV line for 18 hours a day from September 13 to December 31.
The latest NDRRMA figures show that 1,399 people have died in the floods while 4,089 people remain missing.
The Chilime rescue operation remains focused on reaching the underground powerhouse, with further clearing work expected to continue on Wednesday.
