SINDHUPALCHOWK, July 14: Two employees including an engineer of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project have gone missing after being swept away by the Melamchi River when a water tunnel burst on Tuesday afternoon. Two others, who sustained injuries in the incident, were rescued immediately.
The incident took place when the main tunnel gate of the project in the source of the Melamchi river at Ambathang area in Helambu of Sindhupalchowk district burst suddenly at around 12 noon, according to Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sindhupalchok, Umesh Kumar Dhakal.
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CDO Dhakal said those missing after being swept away by the massive flow of water following the sudden burst have been identified as the project’s engineer Satish Goit and driver Radhakrishna Thapa. Engineer Sekhar Khanal and technician Pemba Dorjee Tamang, who sustained injuries were rescued by security personnel when they were being swept away by the swollen Melamchi River.
The incident took place when the employees were on a regular inspection of the project. A vehicle belonging to the project has also been swept away in the incident.
The water tunnel is currently being tested as part of efforts to bring drinking water from Melamchi to the people living in the Kathmandu Valley in the near future.
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