Indian Rescue Team Intensifies Chilime Tunnel Search in Nepal

An Indian specialised tunnel search-and-rescue team has intensified operations at the flood-hit Chilime hydropower site in Nepal, working alongside the Nepal Army as rescuers push deeper into underground structures in difficult mountain terrain.

The Indian team has been carrying out excavation and search work in coordination with Nepali forces, with the operation focused on reaching sections of the Chilime Power House tunnel that remain difficult to access following the devastating flash floods and landslides that struck the Trishuli basin on August 26. India has deployed technical specialists as part of its broader assistance to Nepal's disaster-response efforts. 

Indian Team Works With Nepal Army

The specialised Indian tunnel-rescue team was integrated into operations at the Chilime and Langtang hydropower sites, where underground access has been severely affected by floodwater, mud, rocks and debris.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava visited the rescue team's base at Syabrubesi on September 3 and inspected excavation work being undertaken by Indian technical experts in coordination with the Nepal Army. The team had shifted its base to Syabrubesi to reduce travel time to the Chilime Power House and improve operational access.

The operation requires rescuers to work through unstable terrain while dealing with blocked tunnel passages and the possibility of further water ingress. The difficult geography of the region has made the movement of heavy equipment and personnel particularly challenging.

Excavation Efforts Move Deeper

The rescue effort at Chilime involves more than simply locating tunnel entrances. Teams have been working to remove accumulated debris and create access routes through underground sections.

Recent reports said Indian and Nepali rescuers were draining floodwater and excavating passages to enable heavier equipment to reach deeper sections of the tunnel system. The objective is to progressively open routes while maintaining safety for both rescuers and anyone who may still be trapped underground. 

The terrain and condition of the tunnels mean that excavation has to proceed carefully. Rescue specialists have to balance speed with the risk of destabilising already damaged underground structures.

Rescue Mission Follows Major Nepal Floods

The Chilime operation is part of a much larger search-and-rescue effort following the catastrophic flooding and landslides that affected northern Nepal and areas along the Trishuli River.

The disaster caused extensive damage to hydropower infrastructure and left workers missing at several project sites. India has sent technical specialists, tunnel-rescue personnel, medical support and relief material to assist Nepal. The Ministry of External Affairs said India had deployed 54 experts, including tunnel-rescue specialists and forensic and medical personnel, as part of the assistance effort. 

The scale of the disaster has also prompted assistance from other countries, with technical teams from China, South Korea and other international partners joining rescue and recovery efforts at different locations.

Two Workers Rescued From Trishuli 3A

The continuing Chilime search comes after a major breakthrough at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station, where two workers, Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, were rescued alive after spending nine days trapped underground.

The two men were found inside a tunnel buried beneath a massive volume of mud and debris and were subsequently taken for medical treatment in Kathmandu. Their rescue demonstrated the possibility of finding survivors even after prolonged periods underground and has strengthened hopes for those still unaccounted for.

However, the Trishuli 3A rescue and the Chilime operation are separate rescue sites. The successful extraction of the two workers does not mean the wider search effort has ended.

Families Continue to Await News

For families of workers still missing from Nepal's damaged hydropower facilities, the ongoing excavation represents both a technical challenge and a race against time.

The rescue teams must contend with damaged infrastructure, difficult mountain access, mud and unstable underground conditions. At the same time, every section cleared provides an opportunity to determine whether additional workers can be located.

India's technical assistance at Chilime therefore extends beyond equipment and engineering expertise. It reflects a joint effort with Nepalese security and rescue personnel to navigate one of the most difficult phases of the disaster response.

Search Efforts Remain Ongoing

The immediate priority at Chilime remains reaching inaccessible parts of the underground facility and determining the status of people who may still be trapped or missing.

The Indian tunnel-rescue specialists and Nepal Army are continuing their coordinated work as excavation progresses. The recent rescue of two workers at another hydropower site has provided a measure of hope, but the scale of the disaster means search operations remain a demanding and unfinished task.

For now, the focus is on one objective: dig deeper, reach farther and leave no accessible section of the affected tunnel unexplored.