Kathmandu : The search and rescue conducted jointly by the Nepali Army (NA), the Armed Police Force (APF) and the Nepal Police along with tunnel rescue experts continued in various hydropower tunnels in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts throughout the day on Saturday.
The teams continued the search and rescue works in Rasuwagadhi, Trishuli 3A, Trishuli 3B, Chilime and Upper Trishuli 1 power projects, according to NA’s Public Relations and Information Directorate.
The joint rescue squad reached the sixth storey of Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, but none was found trapped there. However, the fifth storey was stuffed with sludge, so the team is scouring the sludge for the search of the missing persons.
Similarly, 75 NA persons, and 18 APF and Nepal Police persons along with experts have ramped up the search and rescue of those trapped in the Trishuli 3A tunnel.
The search in the Trishuli 3B tunnel also continued with the joint effort of 89 NA persons, and three non-military persons including managing director of the project. They have used even a mini dozer and generator for removing the sludge and debris. The team has cleared the tunnel to allow an excavator into the Audit Tunnel 2.
A mini excavator and pump were used by a joint team including foreign experts to pump out the sludge from Chilime power tunnel. The rescuers have made access up to 150 metres into the tunnel and making further clearance.
A joint rescue squad including foreign experts has made access to 250 metres into the Haku tunnel of Upper Trishuli 1, from where a Chinese national was pulled alive today, according to NA spokesperson Rajaram Basnet. Two dead bodies were retrieved from the tunnel.
The sludge removal from the power station is continuous.
Installation of Acrow Bridge
An acrow bridge is being installed over the Tadi River at Devighat of Bidur Municipality-5, Nuwakot. Total 55 NA persons from engineering section are working to fix the bridge.
NA helicopters rescued 39 persons including two foreign nationals from the flood-hit area on Saturday. So far, 3,997 flood-hit persons, including 275 foreigners have been airlifted to safety by the NA.
NA also shared information about the persons being provided emergency treatment and to the affected persons at various places.
Over 9,300 NA persons have been mobilized in the flood-hit areas from Timure of Rasuwa to Nawalparasi Purba.
