KATHMANDU, Aug 30: A total of 933 employees including engineers of a number of flood-hit hydropower projects have remained out of contact even on the fifth day of the natural catastrophe in Bhotekoshi-Trishuli rivers.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), more than 600 are stranded inside the tunnels of various hydropower projects, waiting to be rescued.
So far, 279 people have been rescued from the tunnels of various hydropower projects, including 254 people from Upper Trishuli-1 and 18 from the 20MW Langtang Khola Hydropower project. The condition of others is still unknown.
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More than 500 employees, workers, and engineers of the 216-megawatt Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project under construction are still out of contact. More than 400 of them are reported to be inside the tunnels.
Similarly, 213 people are missing in the 37 MW Upper Trishuli-3B, 93 in the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Plant and 42 in the 60 MW Upper Trishuli 3A. Four people are missing in the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi Hydropower Plant, 42 in the Langtang Khola Hydropower Plant, seven in the Melung Khola and two in the Middle Trishuli.
Likewise, two people are missing in Trishuli Hydropower Plant, 16 in the Trishuli 3B Hub Substation, 8 in Chilime Hydropower Plant and one each in Devighat Hydropower Plant and the Rasuwa Distribution Center.
The flooding in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli rivers on Wednesday morning claimed more than 700 lives, while thousands of people have remained missing. In addition, the catastrophe has caused great damage to settlements, markets, infrastructure, and physical properties along the banks of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, including hydropower projects.
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