Nepal Floods: Rescuers Crawl Through Mud-Filled Tunnels as Death Toll Nears 1,000

Nepal’s devastating floods and landslides have triggered a major search-and-rescue operation across the country, with teams battling thick mud, damaged infrastructure and unstable terrain to reach people still missing in affected areas. The disaster has killed at least 939 people in Nepal, while 3,925 remain unaccounted for, according to the latest figures reported by Nepal’s disaster authorities. 

One of the most difficult rescue operations is underway at hydropower projects in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, where floodwaters and landslides buried tunnel networks and surrounding infrastructure. Rescue teams are using heavy machinery, cameras, air-pumping equipment and other specialised tools to locate workers who may still be trapped underground.

Rescuers Move Through Mud-Filled Tunnels

Footage released by the Nepali Army shows rescue personnel navigating narrow passages filled with mud and debris while searching for survivors. The conditions inside the tunnels remain extremely difficult, with mud obstructing access points and making it hard for teams to determine the original entry and exit routes.

Controlled blasting has also been used in some areas to create access points, while specialised equipment is being deployed to search sections of the buried tunnel networks.

The hydropower sector has been among the worst affected. Earlier estimates had placed hundreds of workers among those missing from damaged projects. According to the latest reporting, the number of missing hydropower workers has fallen to 639, while rescue teams continue to search affected facilities. (BSS)

Roads, Bridges Disrupted by Floods

Rescue operations are also being slowed by widespread damage outside the tunnel sites. Floodwaters and landslides have destroyed or damaged roads and bridges, leaving several mountain communities difficult to reach.

Authorities are using helicopters to evacuate survivors and deliver essential supplies to areas cut off by the disaster. Road connectivity has gradually been restored in some affected districts, allowing rescue and relief teams to reach locations that had remained isolated. 

23 Bodies Found in Nuwakot House

The scale of the destruction has become clearer as search teams move into previously inaccessible areas. In Nuwakot district, rescuers recovered 23 bodies from a single house in the Betrabati area, according to reports on Tuesday. Search operations at the location were continuing as authorities worked to establish the final number of victims.

The development has added to concerns about the number of victims who may still be buried under mud, debris or collapsed structures.

International Support for Rescue Efforts

Nepal’s rescue operation has received international assistance as the country struggles to cope with the scale of the disaster. India and China have provided specialised support, including expertise relevant to tunnel rescue operations.

Reuters reported that 279 workers had been rescued from hydropower facilities, while around 600 remained trapped or unaccounted for in connection with the affected projects. 

Search Continues Amid Fresh Risks

Rescuers continue to face the threat of additional landslides, heavy rain and unstable ground. These conditions have repeatedly forced teams to pause operations and move to safer locations.

The immediate priority remains locating people still missing, rescuing anyone trapped underground and providing emergency assistance to communities that have lost homes, roads and other essential infrastructure.

The latest figures underline the severity of the disaster, with Nepal’s death toll already approaching the 1,000 mark and thousands of people still unaccounted for. Authorities are continuing search, evacuation and relief operations across the worst-hit districts.

Reservoir left with just 12.5% water; hydropower generation halved; monsoon remains elusive as city records lowest June rainfall in a decade

The delayed monsoon and a severe rainfall deficit in June have begun to take a visible toll on the region's reservoirs, with the Bargi Dam — considered the lifeline of Jabalpur — witnessing a steady decline in water levels. In a first in 15 years, the dam is drying up in June itself. According to dam management officials, the water level is dropping by approximately five centimetres every day.

From 407.85 metres on June 15, the level has now fallen to 407.45 metres — a drop of nearly 40 centimetres. The dam currently holds only 12.59 per cent of its storage capacity, compared to about 22 per cent during the same period last year. Experts warn that even if all 21 gates are opened, water will not flow out due to the critically low level.

"We have never seen such a situation in June before," said Raja Ram Rohit, a water management expert associated with the Bargi Dam project. "The reservoir level has been brought down due to seepage repairs in the dam block. While there is no immediate cause for panic, it is essential that monsoon becomes active in the catchment areas within the next 10 to 12 days," he told reporters.

The impact on hydropower generation has been severe. One of the dam's two power generation units was shut down on June 27, while the second unit, which used to operate for eight to ten hours daily, is now being run for just three hours. Officials said a similar situation had occurred three years ago. In 2025, the water level at this time stood at 409.95 metres, compared with 407.65 metres this year.

Rainfall deficit deepens crisis

Jabalpur has recorded just 42.2 mm of rainfall this June, making it the driest June in a decade. Normal rainfall for the month up to June 30 is around eight inches (approximately 200 mm), but only about 1.5 inches has been recorded so far. Last year, the city had received 141.1 mm by June 27.

The monsoon's northern limit is currently around Mandla, and weather officials expect it to advance further. However, the India Meteorological Department has already flagged a 52 per cent rainfall deficit across Madhya Pradesh, with eastern districts — including Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar — recording 65 to 71 per cent less rain than normal.

Narmada flow reduced, rocks emerge at ghats

The declining water level is also affecting the Narmada River, where rocks have begun to emerge at several ghats and reduced flow has led to deteriorating water quality. Water is normally released into the Narmada through the dam's hydropower plant. With one unit shut and the other operating on a limited schedule, the flow into the river has been significantly reduced.

Locals have started visiting the dam to witness the receding waterline. "I came here after hearing about the dam drying up. The water level has dropped drastically. Rocks are visible at many Narmada ghats, and the river water appears much lower and murkier than before," said Akash Koshta, a Jabalpur resident.

Drinking water, irrigation at risk

Bargi Dam supplies drinking water to Jabalpur and several surrounding towns and villages. Its canals irrigate farmland in Jabalpur and Narsinghpur, with future plans to extend water supply to Katni and Satna. Experts warn that if substantial rainfall does not arrive soon, the region could face a drinking water crisis in the coming weeks.

"We are releasing around 10 cusecs of water through the left bank canal for farmers, but this is only a stop-gap arrangement," an official said. The right bank canal had already been closed earlier, and the left bank canal is now operating at reduced capacity.

Meteorologists attribute the rainfall deficit to El Niño effects, which have weakened monsoon activity this year. They remain hopeful that the monsoon will pick up in July, but warn that any further delay could deepen the water crisis across several reservoirs in Madhya Pradesh, affecting power generation, irrigation and drinking water supply.