Rescue teams are searching for more than 100 workers feared trapped at the Trishuli Hydropower Plant following devastating flash floods [1].
The disaster threatens a significant number of lives and has disrupted critical infrastructure in the Trishuli region, including a major highway connecting Kathmandu and Rasuwa.
Flash floods swept through the area in late August, inundating hydro-tunnels and trapping personnel inside the facility [2]. The plant is located along the Bhote Koshi river, where the sudden surge of water overwhelmed the site's defenses [1]. Emergency responders are currently working to locate survivors and clear debris from the nearby Kathmandu-Rasuwa highway to facilitate the movement of equipment and personnel [1].
Reports on the number of missing personnel vary. Some sources said that 100 workers are trapped [2], while others said the number is more than 100 [1].
The operation is complicated by the geography of the Trishuli region and the ongoing instability of the terrain following the floods [2]. Rescue teams continue to search the tunnels, though the volume of water and debris has hindered progress. The inundation occurred between Aug. 26 and Aug. 28, leaving workers stranded as water filled the underground sections of the plant [2].
Authorities have not yet provided a definitive count of survivors or casualties. The focus remains on the tunnel search and the restoration of the highway to ensure that medical aid, and heavy machinery, can reach the disaster zone [1].
“More than 100 workers are feared trapped at the Trishuli Hydropower Plant.”
This incident highlights the extreme vulnerability of hydropower infrastructure in Nepal to climate-driven flash floods. The disruption of the Kathmandu-Rasuwa highway further underscores how regional transport networks are susceptible to environmental disasters, potentially isolating entire communities during emergency responses.
