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.

Rescue teams are continuing efforts to reach people believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels in Nepal’s flood-hit Rasuwa district, with operations underway at the Chilime Hydropower project as authorities race against time following the devastating flash floods.

The rescue operation has been complicated by large quantities of mud, water and debris that have blocked access to underground facilities. Hundreds of hydropower workers and staff remain missing across projects in Rasuwa and neighbouring Nuwakot districts following the August 26 floods. 

Rescue teams working inside flooded tunnels

Specialised teams are being deployed to search underground areas where workers may still be trapped. Search operations involve navigating through mud and water-filled tunnels under difficult and potentially dangerous conditions.

An Indian specialised tunnel search-and-rescue team has joined the Nepali Army in operations at hydropower tunnel sites in Chilime and Langtang. The teams are working together to identify accessible routes and reach areas cut off by flood debris. 

Floods devastated hydropower projects

The August 26 flash floods caused extensive destruction along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors in northern Nepal. Hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot were among the worst affected, with tunnels, powerhouses and surrounding infrastructure inundated or blocked by debris.

The scale of the disaster has left hundreds of workers unaccounted for. According to current reporting, around 900 hydropower workers are missing across affected projects, while authorities estimate that hundreds could be trapped inside underground tunnels. 

Mud and debris slowing search operation

Rescuers face major challenges because floodwater has carried huge amounts of mud and debris into the hydropower facilities. Some tunnel entrances and internal sections have been heavily obstructed, making it difficult for teams to move deeper into the underground structures.

Search personnel are using specialised equipment, including searchlights, drones and other tools, to assess conditions and identify possible survivors. In some locations, rescue teams have also been working to create access points to blocked areas. 

International teams join Nepal’s rescue efforts

Nepal has received assistance from several countries as rescue operations continue. India has deployed specialised tunnel-rescue personnel, while other international teams are also contributing expertise and equipment.

South Korea has announced the deployment of a 44-member emergency relief team to support Nepal’s search-and-rescue efforts following a formal request for assistance. The team includes personnel from South Korea’s Foreign Ministry and fire agency.

Hundreds of workers remain unaccounted for

The situation in the hydropower sector is part of a much wider humanitarian emergency caused by the flash floods. Thousands of people remain missing across Nepal and neighbouring Tibet, while the death toll has risen sharply.

The Associated Press reported that more than 950 people had died across Nepal and Tibet and more than 4,400 remained missing, while around 900 hydropower workers were unaccounted for. 

Rescue operation continues in Rasuwa

Authorities and rescue teams are continuing to clear debris and search underground facilities in Rasuwa. The focus remains on reaching workers who could still be alive inside isolated tunnels.

With access conditions remaining difficult, rescuers are working carefully while assessing the risk of further flooding, landslides and tunnel collapse. The search at Chilime and other hydropower projects is expected to continue as teams attempt to reach the most affected underground areas. 

It has been exactly two months since Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah took office amidst historic public expectations, but his administration is already navigating a turbulent political landscape. After being sworn into office on March 27 following a landslide victory, the former engineer and rapper introduced an ambitious 100-point reform agenda. However, latest tracking data reveals a stark reality: 88 of those promises are currently reported to be overdue or lagging severely behind schedule.

The government has also faced immediate political setbacks after two key ministers resigned within 30 days of its formation, triggering questions from the nation's highly active Gen-Z voters.

Promises Fall Behind Schedule

According to the official tracking website maintained by the Prime Minister’s Office, the vast majority of the 100-point agenda remains unfulfilled. Initial reports indicate that bureaucratic delays and structural hurdles have slowed down the promised rapid implementation.

The stalled roadmap has fueled growing dissatisfaction among Gen-Z youth, who were the driving force behind the political shift that propelled Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to power. Many young citizens are openly taking to social media, asking whether the promised “new politics” is genuinely distinct from the old guard, or if capable leadership remains missing in government.

Two Ministerial Exits in a Month

Adding to the administration's early anxieties, the Cabinet saw high-profile departures within its first month. Labour Minister Deepak Shah stepped down following allegations that he improperly secured a job for his wife.

Shortly after, Home Minister Sudan Gurung tendered his resignation following claims of links to a businessman currently under investigation. While local authorities confirmed that the resignations were meant to establish a high standard of accountability, the double exit has left the young administration looking vulnerable.

Internal Party Friction Grows

The friction is not limited to the opposition. Several legislative decisions taken by Prime Minister Balen Shah’s government have faced protests, and critical questions are now emerging from within his own party.

RSP leaders Aashika Tamang and Amresh Kumar Singh publicly voiced concerns after the Prime Minister chose not to respond directly to opposition queries during an intense parliamentary session. Singh remarked that Nepal’s parliamentary democracy was beginning to resemble a less accountable model where executive decisions bypass legislative scrutiny.

      Balen Shah Government Tracker (First 60 Days)

┌─────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────┐

│ Reform Metric                       │ Status               │

├─────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────┤

│ Total Promised Reforms              │ 100 Points           │

│ Overdue / Delayed Reforms           │ 88 Points            │

│ Ministerial Resignations (30 days)  │ 2 Ministers          │

│ Major Fulfild Promises              │ Free Hospital Beds   │

└─────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────┘

Controversial Legal Decisions

The administration has faced severe backlash over its legal and procedural choices. The government’s move to implement the old Gauri Bahadur Karki Commission report—which looked into corruption and systemic misuse of power—was initially welcomed by youth groups but soon hit legal hurdles. Critics pointed out that the enforcement lacked a clear legislative basis.

Simultaneously, the high-profile arrests of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak sparked massive political debate. Legal experts claimed that proper procedures and required paperwork were bypassed, turning the anti-corruption drive into a political flashpoint. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress leader Deepak Khadka was recently released from custody after authorities cited insufficient evidence.

Governance Through Ordinances

Despite holding a comfortable majority in the lower house, the RSP lacks representation in the National Assembly (the upper house). To bypass this roadblock, the government introduced eight separate ordinances, including highly controversial proposals to ban civil service trade unions and student organisations.

"Student and employee groups in education and government offices have become sleeper cells of political parties. Transfers and promotions should depend strictly on merit, not political links," Prime Minister Shah stated in a social media post, defending the policy.

However, following massive protests by employee unions and student bodies, Nepal’s Supreme Court intervened and stayed the ordinances, delivering a major judicial blow to the executive.

Border Resentment and Demolitions

On the economic and civic front, the government's strict policy choices have triggered public anger. Local authorities strictly enforced a customs duty rule requiring tax payments on goods worth over 100 Nepali rupees brought across the India-Nepal border. Residents in border towns, who rely heavily on Indian markets for daily essentials like medicines and groceries, staged protests, terming the move an "undeclared blockade."

Domestically, a relentless anti-encroachment drive has displaced thousands. Officials confirmed that nearly 4,000 structures were demolished in the Kathmandu Valley alone, affecting close to 15,000 people. While Shah pioneered this "bulldozer action" during his tenure as Kathmandu mayor, international human rights experts have criticized the current nationwide drive for failing to provide proper rehabilitation plans for the poor.

Fulfilling Core Pledges

Despite the widespread criticism, the government has managed to deliver on a few cornerstone promises. The administration successfully mandated that all government and private hospitals across Nepal allocate 10% of their beds entirely free for poor and destitute patients.

Furthermore, a large-scale judicial inquiry has been initiated into the assets of top political elites and former monarchs since 2006, keeping his core anti-corruption base intact.

Silence Over Accountability

However, a growing point of contention remains the Prime Minister’s recent choice of communication. During his campaign, Shah promised radical transparency, yet he has not held a single press conference or addressed the nation since taking the oath.

His sudden departure midway through the President’s policy speech and subsequent unannounced absences from Parliament have given the opposition fresh leverage. As the government completes its second month under deadline pressure, the public is watching closely to see if the young leader can bridge the gap between radical promises and complex statecraft.

A tragic Nepal bus accident claimed 18 lives early Monday when a passenger bus plunged into the Trishuli River in Dhading district. The incident highlights ongoing road safety concerns on Nepal's treacherous highways.patrika+1

Crash Details Emerge

The bus, registered as Ga 1 Kha 1421, was en route from Pokhara to Kathmandu with 44 passengers aboard. At around 1:30 AM in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-5's Buffainigadouda area, the driver lost control, sending the vehicle into the fast-flowing Trishuli River.

Preliminary police reports point to possible driver error, but investigations continue amid challenging night conditions. Among the 18 dead—12 men and 6 women—are two foreign nationals, identities pending confirmation. Rescue teams first pulled 17 bodies; one injured passenger later died in hospital.

Rescue Efforts Amid Challenges

Over 25 injured passengers were swiftly rescued by Nepal Police, Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal Army, and locals. Many received care at local facilities, with critically hurt cases airlifted to Kathmandu hospitals. APF divers from the Disaster Management Unit aided recovery despite darkness and rugged riverbanks.

Dhading Traffic Police Chief Shishir Thapa confirmed the toll, noting 24 injured transferred for advanced treatment. Operations persist as authorities scour for any missing victims.

Why This Nepal Road Accident Matters Now

Nepal's Prithvi Highway sees frequent deadly crashes due to narrow roads, sharp bends, and monsoon damage—over 2,000 road deaths yearly. This Trishuli River crash, amid rising tourist travel post-winter, underscores urgent calls for better vehicle checks and driver training.

Experts like road safety advocate Rajkumar Thakuri urge stricter night driving rules. For travelers: Check bus conditions, avoid overloads, and use licensed operators.

Investigation and Passenger Safety Tips

Police probe speed, fatigue, or mechanical faults. Families await DNA IDs for victims.

• Verify bus registration and insurance before boarding.
  
  

• Opt for daytime travel on risky routes like Prithvi Highway.
  
  

Carry emergency contacts for Nepal Police (100).