Nepal Grapples with Humanitarian Crisis as Floods Leave Thousands Missing and Trapped in Tunnels

In the aftermath of devastating flash floods that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border, the Himalayan nation is facing a monumental humanitarian crisis. With over 900 confirmed deaths and nearly 5,000 people reported missing, the focus of rescue efforts has shifted to locating and rescuing those trapped in hydropower tunnels.

The floods, which began in Tibet and were triggered by a glacial collapse last week, have caused widespread destruction across Nepal. Scientists believe a portion of the glacier near the Langtang Lirung peak, standing at approximately 5,200 meters in the Himalayas, detached and plummeted about 1,200 meters, gathering rock and debris before impacting the Lende River. The resulting surge then swept south through Nepal's Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts.

As of Monday, Nepali authorities reported that 903 people had died in the floods, with 4,247 still missing. On the Chinese side, authorities confirmed 16 deaths in Tibet's Gyirong County and 546 missing individuals. Additionally, 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries remain unaccounted for in Tibet.

The rescue efforts have been further complicated by the presence of 933 workers who were stationed at hydropower projects along the rivers that swelled during the floods. Many of these workers are believed to be trapped beneath mud and rock debris in about half a dozen hydropower project tunnels. The Nepal army spokesperson, Raja Ram Basnet, emphasized the challenge of opening the tunnels, stating, "A large amount of debris has been deposited, and that is posing us a big challenge to open the tunnels. Our main focus is on opening the tunnels."

The Nepali government has been working tirelessly to locate the tunnel entrances using drilling machines, excavators, hydraulic cutters, and other equipment. On Saturday evening, rescue teams successfully broke through into the upper part of a mud-swamped tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project in Rasuwa District, where they began pumping air and sending in a camera. However, as of Sunday evening, their latest efforts to track more of the missing had not yielded results.

In response to the crisis, the Nepali government has agreed to allow Chinese and Indian experts to assist with the rescue operations. China has mobilized over 2,100 rescue workers and disbursed at least 220 million yuan ($33 million) to support relief efforts. Beijing has also been airdropping equipment and supplies to front-line rescuers and using life-detection equipment, such as thermal cameras and sound detectors, to search for the missing.

India has contributed by flying in 18 army officers trained in tunnel rescue operations, along with six teams of forensic experts to help with DNA-based identification of the deceased. The Indian army has also sent four tranches of humanitarian aid, including portable generators, food, water purification tablets, tents, blankets, water pumps, and medicine. Moreover, they have supplied Bailey bridges to help reach areas cut off by washed-out highways and bridges.

International aid has also arrived from the United Nations, the Red Cross Federation, Australia, South Korea, and the United States. Despite these efforts, the difficult terrain and bad weather have forced rescue operations to halt several times since Friday. On Sunday, overnight rain and rising river waters further hampered efforts at the tunnels, temporarily halting operations.

Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the flood as an "unprecedented and devastating natural disaster." As the floodwaters have receded, the team has resumed efforts to locate the tunnel entrance using drilling machines, excavators, hydraulic cutters, and other equipment. The international community's support and the unwavering determination of the Nepali people remain crucial as the nation grapples with this catastrophic event.