A joint rescue operation involving Nepal Army engineers and security forces is intensifying efforts to rescue individuals trapped inside the Upper Trishuli 3 'A' hydropower project tunnel by widening an access point through blasting.
KATHMANDU — Nepal Army engineers have initiated preparations for controlled blasting to widen access to a collapsed section of the Upper Trishuli 3 ‘A’ hydropower project tunnel in Nuwakot district, where workers remain trapped following a tunnel incident. Rescue teams reached the tunnel’s central part, known as the crown head, and created a small opening measuring 2 by 3 feet. A specialized rescue team descended through the opening, but efforts to communicate with the trapped individuals have so far been unsuccessful.
To facilitate entry and accelerate rescue efforts, heavy machinery has been deployed alongside preparations for blasting operations to enlarge the access point. The operation involves a 90-member joint rescue team, including 66 personnel from the Nepal Army, 18 from the Armed Police Force accompanied by a search-and-rescue dog team, and 6 from the Nepal Police.
Despite hazardous conditions and challenging terrain, the rescue mission continues around the clock. Authorities are committed to employing all necessary resources to safely retrieve the trapped workers and mitigate the ongoing crisis at this critical hydropower infrastructure site, which is significant for Nepal’s energy development and local employment.
Sources referenced:
- https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/army-engineers-prepare-blasting-to-rescue-trapped-in-trishuli-tunnel
