On Sunday, the Nepalese military used helicopters to transport heavy equipment to a dam under construction in the Himalayas, where workers remained trapped in tunnels following catastrophic floods. A deluge of ice, rocks and mud caused by a landslide on the China-Nepal border has already claimed 780 lives, with more than 3,000 people still missing.

Approximately 10,000 Nepalese soldiers have been deployed in a large-scale rescue operation at five hydroelectric power plants, assisted by specialized teams from China and India.

On Saturday, rescuers reached the entrance to one of the tunnels and began clearing the accumulated debris, marking the first major breakthrough. Once the entrance is secured, teams equipped with oxygen apparatus and cameras plan to explore the interior of the tunnel. However, heavy overnight rain and rising river waters have since hampered further progress, flooding the cleared excavation area before conditions eased enough for work to resume on Sunday.

According to estimates, the main work site is located about 180 meters underground. In Tunnel 3A of the Upper Trishuli Hydropower plant alone, approximately 35 to 40 people could be trapped. Rescue efforts continue to be hampered by the weather, as heavy rains keep falling and blocking access routes that have already been cleared.

(Reuters, max)