1 hr ago
Nepal races to restore roads as tunnel rescue continues
A huge flood struck Nepal on August 26 after an ice-and-rock avalanche or glacier collapse near the Nepal-China border.
Fast-moving water destroyed homes, roads, bridges, and parts of hydropower plants.
Many communities are still cut off because important bridges and roads were washed away.
Nepal is asking India and China for temporary bridges to reconnect these places.
China has already sent two bridges, but getting them to the damaged sites is difficult.
Rescue workers are also searching tunnels where hydropower workers may be trapped.
They are sending oxygen and equipment into some tunnels.
Four people have recently been rescued, including one Chinese citizen.
Nepal and Tibet together have reported more than 1,399 deaths and over 5,400 missing people.
The August 26 floods killed 1,356 people, left 4,994 missing, and led to 13,396 rescues in Nepal as of Monday.
Floods destroyed 41 motorable bridges between Rasuwa and Chitwan, while four others were partially damaged.
Nepal is seeking temporary bridges from India and China; China has sent two 100-metre Bailey bridges.
Rescuers are searching three hydropower-project tunnels where dozens of workers may be trapped.
In Nepal and Tibet combined, at least 1,399 people have died and more than 5,400 remain missing.
- Who
- Nepalese authorities, rescue teams, the Nepali Army, and workers from damaged hydropower projects; India and China are assisting with temporary bridges.
- What
- Nepal is repairing flood-damaged roads and bridges while continuing searches for people missing in hydropower tunnels.
- Where
- Northern and central Nepal, especially the Rasuwa-to-Chitwan corridor, Nuwakot, Mustang, and hydropower sites near the Nepal-China border; Tibet was also affected.
- When
- The disaster occurred on August 26, 2026; the reported rescue and reconstruction efforts were continuing in early September.
- Why
- An ice-rock avalanche or glacier collapse triggered the flooding, which destroyed infrastructure and buried tunnel entrances.
Key facts
- Nepal death toll
- 1,356 as of Monday
- Missing in Nepal
- 4,994 people
- People rescued in Nepal
- 13,396
- Road and bridge damage estimate
- NPR 30 billion
- Estimated rebuilding cost
- About NPR 50 billion
- Bridges destroyed
- 41 motorable bridges between Rasuwa and Chitwan
- Tunnel search sites
- Chilime, Upper Trishuli 3A, and Upper Trishuli 3B hydropower projects
Quotes
Sushil Babu Dhakal
Joint secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport
“Our search operation is focussed on finding survivors, including in tunnels. Our bigger focus is on the Chilime hydroelectric project, where we believe people are trapped, because there was a canteen, residency and arrangements for food”
telegraphindia.com
“We know our responsibility and its sensitivity. We are translating the humanitarian spirit of the Nepali people into practice through the search and rescue operation”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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