Rescuers search for hundreds trapped in Nepal hydropower tunnel

Hundreds of workers are believed trapped inside a hydropower tunnel in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, prompting an intensified search by rescue crews that began on Tuesday. The tunnel, part of a 500‑MW project slated to boost the country’s electricity supply, collapsed after a sudden burst of mud and water flooded the excavation site. Rescue teams from the Nepal Army, the Civil Defence, and local contractors are drilling through layers of rock and mud, using jackhammers and explosives to create a safe passage. Early reports say 200–250 workers were on site when the collapse occurred, and only a handful have been located so far.

The incident comes at a time when Nepal is racing to meet its energy goals. Hydropower accounts for roughly 80% of the country’s electricity and is a key export to India. The project in Rasuwa is one of several large‑scale dams that the government has pushed to reduce power shortages and stimulate economic growth. However, the region’s steep terrain and monsoon‑heavy rains make construction risky. In 2022, a similar collapse in the Chandra hydropower tunnel left 30 workers dead, sparking calls for stricter safety standards. The Rasuwa collapse has reignited those concerns, as local officials say the tunnel was built without adequate drainage and with insufficient support beams.

Rescue crews have set up a temporary base camp and are working around the clock, using ground‑penetrating radar to locate survivors. The army has deployed a 12‑meter tunnel boring machine, while engineers are testing the structural integrity of the surrounding rock. The government has pledged to provide medical care for any rescued workers and to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the collapse. In the coming weeks, officials plan to suspend work on the tunnel until a safety audit is completed, and the international partners who financed the project are expected to review their contractual obligations. The incident has also prompted the Nepalese Ministry of Energy to tighten regulations on tunnel construction, including mandatory safety drills and real‑time monitoring of underground water levels.