Kathmandu, Sept. 5: Indian and Nepalese rescue teams have pushed deeper into the Chilime hydropower project tunnel in Nepal as they work to reach waterlogged and debris-blocked sections following the deadly August 26 flash floods, while medical and forensic teams continue assisting affected communities.
Indian specialised tunnel rescue personnel worked with the Nepali Army inside the tunnel on Friday, draining water and establishing a temporary track to move heavy equipment towards the affected sections. Rescuers have secured a foothold inside the structure as they seek to make blocked areas accessible for intensified search operations.
Safety ropes have been installed inside the tunnel, while rescuers are using improvised floats and pumps to negotiate sections obstructed by water and debris. The operation is focused on improving access and safety so that additional equipment can be moved into the tunnel and search efforts can expand.
The Chilime hydropower project, near Syabrubesi village in Rasuwa district, was among the sites severely affected by the flash floods that struck Nepal on August 26.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said on X on Saturday that the Indian tunnel rescue team, working alongside the Nepali Army, had gone deeper into the Chilime tunnel after draining water. He also said a temporary track was being constructed to facilitate the movement of heavier equipment, while doctors accompanying the team conducted a health camp for the local community.
Indian medical teams comprising doctors and paramedics are providing emergency treatment, medical assistance and humanitarian support to residents displaced or affected by the floods. Their work forms part of India’s wider response alongside Nepalese authorities.
India has also deployed tunnel rescue teams at the Chilime and Langtang hydropower project sites, where personnel are clearing debris and searching for workers who may remain trapped after the floods.
The broader response has included the delivery of tonnes of relief material to Nepal and the rescue of 166 Indian nationals affected by the disaster. Relief supplies have included antibiotics, analgesics, surgical items, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, blankets and water purification tablets.
A 19-member DNA and forensic analysis team is also working in Nepal to support local authorities in identifying victims as search and recovery operations continue.
Indian teams remain coordinated with Nepalese authorities as rescue personnel work to locate people still unaccounted for and provide immediate assistance to communities affected by the catastrophic floods.
