Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Nepal Army Rescues Flood Survivors From Muddy Hydropower Tunnel
A very large flood struck parts of Nepal and Tibet.
The flood carried water, ice, rocks, and mud through villages and buildings.
Many people died, and thousands were still missing.
Some workers and tourists became trapped inside a hydropower tunnel in Nepal.
Soldiers crawled through thick mud to reach them.
Helicopters also rescued people from rooftops of damaged buildings.
Reports said 350 people were rescued from the tunnel.
Nepal said thousands of people were rescued overall, although different updates gave different totals.
Nepal initially declined some foreign rescue offers but later accepted help from several countries.
Flooding along the Bhote Koshi River killed at least 579 people in Nepal and seven in Tibet.
More than 2,400 people remained missing on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border.
Nepal Army soldiers crawled through mud and debris to reach people trapped inside the Upper Trishuli Hydropower tunnel.
Reports said 350 people were rescued from the tunnel; separate figures cited 883 rescued overall in one update and 3,742 across Nepal later.
Nepal mobilized 14,829 security personnel, while India reported 84 citizens rescued and about 320 still missing or unreachable.
- Who
- The Nepal Army, other security personnel, residents, workers, tourists, and people stranded by the flooding.
- What
- A large search-and-rescue operation followed severe flooding, including the rescue of people trapped inside the Upper Trishuli Hydropower tunnel.
- When
- The flooding occurred earlier in the week; the reports were published or updated on August 29, 2026.
- Where
- Nepal and Tibet, especially Rasuwa district and areas along the Nepal-Tibet border.
- Why
- A massive ice-rock avalanche and related landslide triggered a flood carrying water, ice, rocks, and debris through the region.
Initial Reluctance
Later International Assistance
Foreign rescue support
Initial Reluctance
Nepal initially said no to search-and-rescue assistance offered by India, China, and other countries.
Later International Assistance
Nepal later accepted assistance from India, China, Australia, and South Korea, including relief supplies, medical teams, and tunnel-rescue experts.
Overall rescue count
Initial Reluctance
An earlier update reported 883 people rescued overall during the operation.
Later International Assistance
A later official figure cited 3,742 people rescued across Nepal, indicating that reported totals changed as operations continued.
- Deaths
- At least 579 people died in Nepal and seven in Tibet.
- Missing
- More than 2,400 people remained missing on both sides of the border; one breakdown cited 1,924 missing in Nepal and 558 in Tibet.
- Tunnel rescue
- The Nepali Army reportedly rescued 350 people from the Upper Trishuli Hydropower tunnel.
- Rescue totals
- One update cited 883 people rescued overall, while a later figure said 3,742 had been rescued across Nepal.
- Security mobilization
- Nepal mobilized 14,829 security personnel for search-and-rescue operations.
- Indian nationals
- India said 84 citizens were rescued, 149 crossed safely into Nepal from China, about 400 were safe in China, and about 320 remained missing or uncontactable.
- International assistance
- Nepal initially declined some foreign search-and-rescue offers but later accepted assistance from India, China, Australia, and South Korea.
