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Indian tunnel rescue teams are working with the Nepali Army inside the Chilime tunnel after the devastating floods. Their effort to drain water and bring in heavier equipment could speed up the search for hundreds still missing.
Stock photo used for illustration
Kathmandu,UPDATED: Sep 5, 2026 12:20 IST
India's tunnel rescue team in Nepal is continuing to work with the Nepali Army in flood-hit Rasuwa district, where it has prepared a temporary track inside the Chilime tunnel to help move more heavy equipment to the affected area. The team also dug deeper on Friday to drain out water that was slowing rescue work, officials said on Saturday.
India has sent specialised teams to help Nepal after the flash floods of August 26, which swept through northern and central parts of the country. The disaster killed 1,344 people, left 4,898 missing, and caused widespread damage to homes, roads, bridges and hydropower projects.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said in a post on X on Saturday: "The Indian tunnel rescue team, working alongside the Nepali Army, dug deeper into the Chilime tunnel yesterday, draining out water. A temporary track is also being made to allow more heavy equipment to reach the tunnel, and doctors with the team held a health camp for the local community."
Expert teams from India and China are assisting Nepal's rescue teams in tracing workers and employees who remain unaccounted for at various hydropower project sites since the disaster, with many believed to be trapped inside tunnels. Officials said at least 900 workers are missing from a dozen hydropower projects in Nepal, and about 500 of them are believed to be inside tunnels.
The flash floods are believed to have been triggered by a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock near the Nepal-Tibet border. The Bhotekoshi River, which flows south from the Himalayan border region, carried floodwaters downstream, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects. The Chilime hydropower project site is near Syabrubesi village in Rasuwa district, one of the worst-hit areas.
According to a report presented by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority on Friday, the floods have affected more than 32,000 people and damaged roads, bridges, schools and healthcare facilities. Rescue efforts are continuing at hydropower sites, including Chilime, as teams work to reach those still missing after the disaster.
With PTI Inputs
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Sep 5, 2026 12:20 IST
