Good chance that trapped workers are still alive in Nepal hydropower plant, official says - Reuters

**Trapped Workers Likely Still Alive at Nepal Hydropower Site, Officials Say**

*Kathmandu, Sept 2 (Reuters)* – A flash‑flood triggered by unprecedented monsoon rains on Monday caused a retaining wall to give way at the under‑construction Upper Tamakoshi hydropower plant in Rasuwa district, burying an estimated 30 construction workers under debris and water‑logged soil. The site, part of Nepal’s ambitious push to expand its renewable‑energy capacity, was submerged after a sudden surge from the Trishuli River swept through the hillside, toppling scaffolding and a concrete slab that formed a temporary shelter for the labor force. Initial reports from the plant’s contractor indicated that several workers were rescued in the first hours, but rescue teams were unable to confirm the fate of the remaining personnel.

The Nepal Army’s Special Operations Force, assisted by Nepal Police, the National Search and Rescue Agency and volunteers from the Nepal Red Cross, has been conducting a 24‑hour search-and‑recovery operation. Deputy Minister of Energy, Dhan Bahadur Shrestha, told reporters on Tuesday that “based on the depth of the burial and the rate of water receding, there is a good chance the trapped workers are still alive.” He added that sonar equipment and thermal imaging cameras have detected faint heat signatures consistent with human bodies at depths of up to 4 metres. The rescue effort is hampered by ongoing after‑shocks, unstable ground, and the need to shore up the riverbank to prevent further collapse, prompting authorities to rotate teams in three‑hour shifts to avoid exhaustion.

The incident comes amid a broader climate‑driven crisis that has left Nepal repeatedly exposed to deadly flash floods and landslides. Earlier this year, the Rasuwa district was devastated by a flood that Nepal’s government blamed on water releases from Chinese dams and on broader regional climate change, prompting calls for compensation from China, the United States and India. International observers note that the frequency of such extreme weather events is rising, underscoring the urgency of resilient infrastructure and cross‑border climate cooperation. While the focus now remains on locating and rescuing the trapped workers, the tragedy reinforces the nation’s appeal for greater regional support in mitigating climate‑related disasters.