Two Rescued from Tunnel Nine Days After Catastrophic Flood in Nepal; Search Continues for Nine South Koreans

[Financial News] Two Nepalese employees were rescued on the fourth, local time, from a tunnel at a hydropower plant damaged by flooding, nine days after a catastrophic flood swept through the Himalayan mountain region along the Nepal-China border. One survivor said he communicated by voice with other employees inside the tunnel, raising hopes that additional survivors may be found.
According to the Nepalese government, Nepalese military and other rescue teams rescued two Nepalese employees while searching a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Plant in Bagmati Province in central-northern Nepal.
The rescued employees were identified as Sanjay Sah, the plant’s mechanical section chief, and Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor.
Local television showed Sah, the first to be rescued, emerging from the site covered in mud with help from rescuers. He was later transported by helicopter while being carried on a rescuer’s back.
The Trishuli 3A Hydropower Plant is located approximately 6 km downstream along the Trishuli River from the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project (UT-1), where nine South Korean employees remain missing.
The Korean Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) plans to focus its search on routes around the UT-1 project where the missing employees may have moved or evacuated. Using two helicopters supported by the Nepalese military, the team will conduct an aerial search as weather conditions permit, while also carrying out a ground search.
Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, which are responsible for construction of the UT-1 project, have also expanded their search personnel and coverage. Korea South-East Power has divided 25 local residents into two teams to conduct a ground search. Doosan Enerbility has secured an additional helicopter and plans to search mainly downstream once it receives flight approval.


[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter