Archive · 4 Sep 2026
WhatsApp Experts Guide Nepal’s Tunnel Rescue After Deadly Flood
A huge flood struck Nepal’s Trishuli Valley on August 26.
Water, mud and rocks buried several hydropower plants and tunnel entrances.
Some workers may have escaped into tunnels or become trapped inside them.
Engineers created a WhatsApp group to share maps and drawings with rescuers.
Former workers are also explaining how the tunnels connect.
The group has more than 500 members.
Rescuers are using heavy machines, helicopters and oxygen pipes to search.
Two workers were found alive after nine days, but many families are still waiting for news.
A WhatsApp group of more than 500 engineers, former hydropower workers, officials and experts is guiding searches in buried tunnels.
The August 26 flood, triggered by a glacial and mountain collapse, devastated six hydropower plants in Nepal’s Trishuli Valley.
About 900 people were reported missing from the six plants, while reports said nearly 4,000 or more than 4,000 remained missing overall.
Two workers were rescued alive from a tunnel linked to the Upper Trishuli 3A project nine days after the disaster.
Experts are sharing tunnel maps, plant drawings and missing workers’ last phone locations as teams use excavators, helicopters and oxygen pipes.
- Who
- Nepali rescue teams, engineers, former hydropower employees, government and military officials, missing workers and their families.
- What
- Experts are using a WhatsApp group to provide maps, technical drawings and phone-location information for searches inside flood-damaged hydropower tunnels.
- When
- The flood struck on August 26; two workers were rescued nine days later, on Friday. A Reuters report was published September 4.
- Where
- Nepal’s Trishuli Valley near the Nepal-China border, including the Chilime, Rasuwagadhi, Upper Trishuli 1 and Upper Trishuli 3A facilities.
- Why
- Mud, rocks and debris buried or altered tunnel entrances and routes, making specialist knowledge important for locating possible survivors.
- Expert network
- More than 500 engineers, former hydropower employees, officials and other experts participate in the WhatsApp group.
- Disaster date
- August 26.
- Affected facilities
- Six hydropower plants were affected; at least three were under construction.
- Missing from plants
- About 900 people were reported missing from the six hydropower plants.
- Debris
- An estimated 2.2 million tonnes of mud and debris were deposited in the valley.
- Possible survivors
- At least eight people were said to possibly be trapped at Chilime, and 46 at Rasuwagadhi.
- Rescue breakthrough
- Two workers were rescued alive from a tunnel linked to Upper Trishuli 3A nine days after the disaster.
- Reported toll
- Reports cited more than 1,200 deaths, including an official figure of 1,287, and nearly or more than 4,000 people still missing.
Sources
Maps, last phone locations, expert help: How a WhatsApp group is guiding Nepal rescuers. Know here
WhatsApp Group of Engineers Guides Nepal Tunnel Rescue Operations
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Engineers use WhatsApp to guide search for survivors in flood-hit Nepal hydropower tunnels
How engineers in a WhatsApp group are guiding Nepal’s flood rescue efforts
How engineers in a WhatsApp group are guiding Nepal’s tunnel rescue efforts
