Rasuwa Flood Crisis: 894 Hydropower Workers Still Unaccounted For

The devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa has caused severe damage to Nepal’s hydropower sector, with hundreds of workers still unaccounted for six days after the disaster. According to the latest figures presented in the report, around 894 employees and workers from 11 major hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot remain out of contact. The situation is particularly serious at the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1, where 573 workers are reportedly unaccounted for, including around 300 workers feared trapped inside tunnels when the flood struck. Similarly, 122 workers from 37 MW Upper Trishuli-3B, 93 workers from 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, and 42 workers from 60 MW Upper Trishuli-3A are reported missing. Workers from Langtang Khola, Chilime, Mailung Khola and other smaller projects are also out of contact. Rescue operations have been severely hampered by flooded tunnels, mud, damaged infrastructure, blocked roads, communication disruptions and a shortage of specialized rescue equipment and technology. Families of missing workers have been increasing pressure on authorities, demanding faster and more effective rescue operations. The disaster has also raised serious questions about Nepal’s preparedness, emergency response capacity and the availability of specialized equipment for rescuing people trapped inside hydropower tunnels.